New Jersey Teachers Earn Six-Figure Salaries in Top-Paying Districts

As the 2025-26 school year commenced in New Jersey, the spotlight has turned to the significant pay disparities among the state's teachers. According to the latest Taxpayer's Guide to Education Spending, the median salary for New Jersey teachers during the 2023-24 school year was over $80,000.

However, the data reveals a stark contrast, with teachers in the top-paying districts earning six-figure salaries. The highest-paying district in the state had a median teacher salary of $119,285. An analysis by NJ Advance Media shows that all of the top 15 districts have a median pay for teachers in the six figures.

The key factor driving these high salaries appears to be the experience level of teachers in the top-paying districts. Data indicates that teachers in 12 of the 17 highest-paying districts have at least a year more experience than the state average. In Brigantine, Atlantic County, the average teacher has more than 17 years of experience.

In contrast, the seven lowest-paying public school districts in New Jersey are charter schools with relatively inexperienced teachers. At Bridgeton Public Charter School in Cumberland County, the average teacher has less than one year of experience.