Washington: education overview
Average teacher salary $96,589 (2024-25), #3 of 51. Source
Public vs private schools
| Public | Private | |
|---|---|---|
| Schools | 2,549 | 640 |
| Students | 1,094,502 | 113,670 |
| Share of students | 91% | 9% |
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
- 298
- Public school teachers (full-time equivalent)
- 63,272
- Public school students
- 1,094,502
Schools 2022-23Students 2024-25Teachers 2022-23Districts 2021-22
How teacher pay is structured
Regular districts generally serve K–12, so elementary and high school teachers normally use the same district teacher pay framework rather than separate grade-level district schedules. Local teacher salary schedules are generally collectively bargained, subject to statutory minimum base-pay requirements; the old statewide allocation grid ended after 2017–18 and should not be described as the current statewide pay schedule.
Separate high school districts: noStatewide salary schedule: minimumSource
For prospective educators
You'd be a good fit if you want some of the higher teacher pay in the country, locally bargained schedules, and no state income tax.
A general summary, not advice. Pay and conditions vary by district.