Maryland Teaching Salaries and Benefits
Maryland leads the nation in offering a superior educational experience to its students. For two years running, the state’s public school system has been named number one in the United States by Education Week, which publishes state-by-state reports each year.
These high standings largely rely on a highly dedicated teacher workforce – teachers who devote their lives to the continuing success of their students.
If Maryland’s educational reputation piques your interest, the benefits package it offers will further attract you to the state. By offering its employees retirement benefits and health insurance perks, Maryland hopes to continue its winning streak as a top state for education.
Sponsored School(s)
Learn more about becoming a teacher. Contact schools offering teacher education/certification programs in Maryland.
Teacher Salaries in Maryland by Education
As teachers further their educations and gain experience in the field, they receive pay increases that reflect their dedication and hard work. Salaries vary between school districts, but the following are some examples of the salaries you can expect in Maryland:
| Experience | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| At 3 years | $46,119 | $50,556 |
| At 6 years | $50,320 | $55,160 |
| At 9 years | $54,907 | $60,188 |
| At 12 years | $59,909 | $65,674 |
Source: Prince George’s County Public Schools
Retiring in Maryland
Created in 1972, the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (SRPS) was originally envisioned as a retirement benefit program simply for teachers. Today, however, the SRPS covers not only teachers, but also all state employees.
Providing close to 200,000 state employees with lifetime retirement payments requires adequate funding. To guarantee the system remains strong not only throughout your career, but for future teachers as well, you’ll contribute a portion of your monthly salary toward retirement.
Teachers in Maryland contribute 7% of their salaries to the system, while their employers contribute 14.71%. These contributions are automatically deducted from your paychecks, and go into an account where they accrue 5% interest annually.
Once you reach normal retirement age and terminate employment, you’ll become eligible to receive payments from this fund. Teachers in Maryland reach normal retirement age under the “Rule of 90.”
Under the Rule of 90, you’re eligible for retirement if your age and years of service together equal 90. For example, if you worked for 30 years, you would also need to reach 60 years old.
Your monthly retirement benefits are calculated by a formula that’s subject to change. Currently, you can discover your likely benefits with the following formula:
1.5%
multiplied by
Average Final Compensation
multiplied by
Years of Service
So, for example, if you retire after 25 years of service with an average final salary of $45,000, you would receive a monthly allowance of $1,406.
If you want to learn more about retirement benefits offered to teachers in Maryland, contact the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System.
Access to Affordable Health Insurance
In Maryland, health insurance benefits are managed on a school district level. While your exact options may very, nearly all school districts do provide their teachers with coverage.
Most health insurance programs offer several plans to teachers, allowing them to pick a plan that caters to their specific needs. Schools will typically pay a portion of your insurance premiums; ensuring costs remain relatively low.
Whether you’re simply insuring yourself, or your family as well, you’ll be covered for a variety of services. Some typical medical services covered by these plans include:
- Well-Child Visits
- Immunizations
- Preventive Prescription Drugs
- Screenings and Counseling
- Prenatal Care
- Contraception
- Inpatient Care
- Outpatient Care
If you want to learn more about what plans and costs you’ll incur as a teacher in Maryland, contact your local school district.
