Nevada Teaching Salaries and Benefits
Some would-be teachers are scared away from the profession by reports that educators don’t earn competitive salaries. These reports (while largely based on personal opinion), tend to ignore many of the substantial benefits teachers receive for their services.
With retirement benefits that last a lifetime and insurance options to help support the health needs of their families, teachers are highly capable of remaining financially stable through life. This is especially true for teachers in Nevada, where they receive employee benefits at both the state and local levels.
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Learn more about becoming a teacher. Contact schools offering teacher education/certification programs in Nevada.
Teacher Salaries in Nevada by Education
As teachers further their educations and gain experience in the field, they receive pay increases that reflect their dedication and hard work. The following are some examples of salaries you can expect in Nevada:
| Experience | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| At 3 years | $37,586 | $43,185 |
| At 6 years | $43,809 | $47,535 |
| At 9 years | $50,025 | $51,895 |
| At 12 years | $50,025 | $63,557 |
Source: Clark County School District
Retiring in Nevada
Once you’re hired at a Nevada school, you’re mandated to enroll in the state’s Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). The PERS offers a state-wide defined benefit plan for teachers in Nevada, allowing them to earn lifetime monthly pension payments once they retire.
You begin receiving these monthly payments when you reach normal retirement age and terminate employment. Teachers in Nevada may retire with full benefits if they meet any of the following qualifications:
- At age 65 with five years of service
- At age 62 with 10 years of service
- At any age with 30 years of service
Pension benefits do not come without a cost, however. Throughout your career, you’ll contribute a portion of your salary to the PERS in the form of salary dedications. Currently, the rate is set at 11.875% for employees, with employers matching that contribution.
As a defined benefit plan, the PERS does not base your benefits on these contributions, but rather on a set formula designated by the state legislature. While this formula is subject to change over time, you can estimate your likely benefits with the following calculation:
Years of Service
multiplied by
2.5%
multiplied by
Final Average Monthly Salary
For example, if you retired after 20 years of service with an average monthly salary of $3,000, you would qualify to receive $1,500 in pension payments per month.
You have several options regarding your monthly benefits, allowing you to defer a portion of payment to a beneficiary. To learn more about these options and information pertaining to retirement in Nevada, contact the Public Employees Retirement System.
Access to Affordable Health Insurance
In Nevada, teachers unions bargain for health insurance benefits at a local school district level. While your exact health benefits largely depend on these negotiations, most schools do offer some level of coverage to teachers.
For example, the Clark County School District, one of the largest school districts in the United States, offers teachers a variety of health insurance benefits through the Teachers Health Trust.
Teachers have the option of choosing between several levels of coverage, each differing in costs, coverage, and who the plan applies to. Most plans extend health insurance benefits to not only the teachers, but to their families as well.
While plans might differ, most offer coverage for the following medical services:
- Hospital Visits
- Diagnostic Testing
- Office Visits
- Physician Services
- Preventative/Routine Care
Some insurance benefits will extend past medical care to dental and vision care as well. To determine your exact benefits, contact your local school district.
