Anyone interested in becoming a Kansas certified teacher is no doubt curious to learn what he or she will be paid. Although their salaries fall below the national average in many areas, educators can still make a decent living after receiving a teaching certificate in Kansas.
Indeed, teaching is not the most lucrative career, but the last decade has been good to Kansas teachers’ salaries, which have risen 4.4% a year between the 2005-2006 and 2008-2009 school years. Even so, the national teacher salary average is higher than the Sunflower State’s. It’s worth noting, however, that the cost of living in Kansas is slightly lower than the national average as well. After finishing their teaching requirements in Kansas and earning teacher certification in Kansas, teachers go on to earn an average income of $44,240 for elementary schools, $46,050 for middle schools, and $45,660 for high schools, with salaries varying depending on a teacher’s experience, degree level, and subject taught.
The following chart, culled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, provides further details about teacher salaries in Kansas as compared to the national average. Notice that special education, a high-needs area, pays more than general education.
| Education, Training, and Library Occupations | Annual mean wage in Kansas | Annual mean wage in U.S. |
| Business Teachers Postsecondary | $70,270 | $86,620 |
| Physics Teachers Postsecondary | $70,740 | $86,730 |
| Psychology Teachers Postsecondary | $70,010 | $74,890 |
| Education Teachers Postsecondary | $61,830 | $65,050 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers Postsecondary | $54,710 | $68,760 |
| Preschool Teachers Except Special Education | $28,340 | $30,150 |
| Kindergarten Teachers Except Special Education | $44,660 | $52,350 |
| Elementary School Teachers Except Special Education | $44,240 | $55,270 |
| Middle School Teachers Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $46,050 | $55,780 |
| Secondary School Teachers Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $45,660 | $56,760 |
| Special Education Teachers Preschool Kindergarten and Elementary School | $47,660 | $56,460 |
| Special Education Teachers Middle School | $49,180 | $58,420 |
| Special Education Teachers Secondary School | $51,210 | $59,080 |
It’s also wise to keep in mind that salaries can vary greatly from region to region. Below are Kansas’s three largest cities — Wichita, Kansas City, and Topeka — and their teacher salaries from May 2011.
| City | Annual mean wage |
| Wichita | $39,780 |
| Kansas City | $44,870 |
| Topeka | $40,560 |
Helpful Resources
- Kansas State Department of Education – Welcome page
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers
- The Huffington Post – 10 States Where Teachers Are Paid The Worst