Iowa: education overview
Average teacher salary $65,312 (2024-25), #30 of 51. Source
Public vs private schools
| Public | Private | |
|---|---|---|
| Schools | 1,327 | 230 |
| Students | 504,292 | 53,770 |
| Share of students | 90% | 10% |
Latest federal counts; public and private figures come from different school years, so the share is approximate.
Schools 2022-23Students 2024-25Teachers 2022-23Districts 2021-22
Students, teachers, districts
- Public school districts
- 327
- Public school teachers (full-time equivalent)
- 36,138
- Public school students
- 504,292
Schools 2022-23Students 2024-25Teachers 2022-23Districts 2021-22
How teacher pay is structured
Iowa is almost entirely unified K–12: elementary and high school teachers normally share their employing district’s pay framework, even where districts share grades or send students elsewhere. Local schedules operate above statewide minimums of $50,000 for full-time beginning teachers and $62,000 for qualifying full-time teachers with at least 12 years of experience from FY2026. Collective bargaining is permitted, but mandatory bargaining for most teacher units is largely limited to base wages, not the whole salary schedule.
Separate high school districts: noStatewide salary schedule: minimumSource
For prospective educators
You'd be a good fit if you want K–12 teachers in your district on one shared schedule, small-town communities, and a state minimum salary for new teachers.
A general summary, not advice. Pay and conditions vary by district.