What is the average beginning teacher salary for the following states: NM,TX,AZ,ut?

Question

My husband and I are planning on moving out west when I graduate from my teacher education program next spring, we are trying to decide which state we want to move to. Among other things we are interested in the salary for beginning teachers. He wants to quit his job and go to college while I work, therefore we need to go someplace where I can make enough money for us to live on until he graduates.

Answer 1

TX is kind of weird I guess. It depends on the school district you sign with. For example, in a poorer, more rural district the teachers are lucky to get more than one or two thousand more than the state minimum (7 years ago it was $23,000 but I've heard it's gone up since then). However in more urban and wealthy districts it's not uncommon for beginning teachers to get seven or eight thousand more than the minimum. Seven years ago I even heard about beginning teachers getting $30,000 in the metroplex (Dallas/Ft. Worth area).

My boss has a brother who is an experienced Ag teacher in San Antonio and he's getting $60,000 and says new teachers are getting $40,000 in San Antonio. So they are able to almost double the state minimum, which I think is around $25,000 - $26,000 now.  

Answer 2

In Utah, the average is just above thirty thousand to start.  Keep in mind, the cost of living in Utah is pretty low in some areas, so even if you make less there, you will be in much better financial shape than if you try to live in Phoenix or another expensive city.