Minnesota Teaching Salaries and Benefits
The average teacher salary in Minnesota ranges from $62,640 to $76,460 a year depending on grade level, according to May 2025 BLS wage data. Secondary and elementary teachers earn the state’s highest median wages among these categories. Every Minnesota public school teacher also earns a pension through the Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) and typically qualifies for subsidized health insurance.
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Minnesota’s median annual teacher salary ranges from $62,640 for middle school teachers to $76,460 for secondary school teachers, according to May 2025 wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay is only part of the picture. Every teacher in the state automatically enrolls in a defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement Association (TRA), and most districts offer subsidized health insurance starting on day one. Here’s what teachers can expect to earn by grade level, how the state’s job market looks, and what retirement and health benefits actually cover.
Learn more about becoming a teacher. Contact schools offering teacher education/certification programs in Minnesota.
Teacher Salaries in Minnesota by Grade Level
BLS wage data breaks Minnesota teacher pay out by grade level rather than treating “teacher” as a single occupation, which matters because the range is wide. Elementary and kindergarten teachers earn a higher median wage in Minnesota than middle school teachers do, a gap that’s worth knowing if you’re choosing which grade band to pursue.
| Grade Level | Median Annual Wage | Mean Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $75,500 | $72,880 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $76,350 | $74,790 |
| Middle School Teachers | $62,640 | $70,420 |
| High School Teachers | $76,460 | $80,020 |
Compared to national BLS figures, Minnesota pays above the national median for kindergarten, elementary, and high school teachers, but slightly below the national median for middle school teachers, where the national figure sits at $64,370.
Job Growth and Hiring Outlook for Minnesota Teachers
Nationally, the BLS projects a slight decline in teacher employment through 2034 as enrollment trends shift. Minnesota bucks that trend. State projections from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) show growth across every grade level between 2024 and 2034.
| Grade Level | Projected Growth (2024-2034) | Avg. Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | +1.7% | 310 |
| Elementary School Teachers | +1.4% | 1,740 |
| Middle School Teachers | +1.5% | 760 |
| High School Teachers | +1.5% | 1,180 |
Even with modest percentage growth, Minnesota still needs thousands of new teachers every year across these four categories combined, driven mostly by retirements and turnover rather than new positions. If you’re licensed in another state, Minnesota’s teacher reciprocity agreements may let you qualify for a Minnesota license without starting your certification over from scratch.
Retirement Benefits for Minnesota Teachers
Minnesota public school teachers automatically enroll in the Teachers Retirement Association of Minnesota (TRA) upon employment. This coordinated benefit plan supplements a teacher’s Social Security and Medicare benefits, providing a defined lifetime pension starting at normal retirement age.
For most current members, who fall under TRA’s Coordinated Plan (those hired on or after July 1, 1989), normal retirement age is 65. Vested members, meaning those with at least three years of service credit, can also retire as early as age 55, though taking benefits before normal retirement age permanently reduces the monthly payment. Retirement eligibility and benefit rules vary by hire date and plan tier, so it’s worth confirming your specific situation directly with TRA.
To fund the plan, both teachers and employers contribute a percentage of salary to TRA. As of TRA’s current published rates, teachers contribute 8.0% of salary and employing school districts contribute 9.81%. Contribution rates are set by Minnesota law and are subject to change.
Your eventual pension isn’t based on your own contributions directly. Instead, it’s calculated using a benefit formula: your high-five average salary (the average of your five highest-paid consecutive years) multiplied by a percentage earned for each year of service credit. For service credit earned after July 1, 2006, Coordinated Plan members earn a 1.9% multiplier per year of service.
For example, a teacher with 30 years of qualifying service credit and a high-five average salary of $54,000 would earn a cumulative multiplier of 57% (1.9% multiplied by 30 years), for an annual benefit of about $30,780, or roughly $2,565 a month.
Visit the Minnesota Teachers Retirement Association to confirm the eligibility rules and benefit formula that apply to your specific hire date and plan tier.
Health Insurance Benefits for Minnesota Teachers
While every Minnesota teacher receives retirement benefits from the same statewide system, health insurance benefits are distributed at the local level.
Depending on where you work, your coverage level and exact costs will vary. Larger school districts might cover most of your premium, while smaller, more rural districts might require you to contribute more.
In Minnesota, you’ll be able to seek care from a variety of in-network and out-of-network providers. While exact details depend on your employing school district’s health plan, most cover similar services, including:
- Prescription drugs
- Ambulance use
- Behavioral and mental health care
- Chiropractic care
- Emergency room care
- Home health care
- Hospital inpatient and outpatient care
Some school districts also offer vision, dental, and life insurance to eligible employees. If you want to learn more about the health benefits you’d earn as a teacher in Minnesota, contact local school districts in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average teacher salary in Minnesota?
Minnesota’s median teacher salary ranges from $62,640 for middle school teachers to $76,460 for high school teachers, according to May 2025 BLS data. Elementary and kindergarten teachers fall in between, at $76,350 and $75,500 respectively.
How do Minnesota teacher salaries compare to the national average?
Minnesota pays above the national median for kindergarten, elementary, and high school teachers. Middle school teachers are the exception, earning slightly less than the $64,370 national median for that grade band.
Is teaching a good career in Minnesota right now?
Job growth looks stronger in Minnesota than nationally. The BLS projects a slight national decline in teacher employment through 2034, but Minnesota DEED projections show growth across kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teaching roles over the same period. If you’re not ready for full certification, a Minnesota substitute teaching license is another way to get into a classroom sooner.
How does the Minnesota Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) pension work?
Teachers currently contribute 8.0% of their salary and districts contribute 9.81% to TRA, though these rates are set by Minnesota law and can change. Your pension is calculated from your high-five average salary multiplied by 1.9% for each year of qualifying service credit, and most current members reach normal retirement age at 65.
What health insurance benefits do Minnesota teachers get?
Health insurance is set at the district level rather than statewide, so coverage and cost-sharing vary. Most district plans cover prescription drugs, emergency and hospital care, behavioral health, and chiropractic care, with some districts adding vision, dental, and life insurance.
- Salary varies significantly by grade level. Minnesota’s median teacher salary spans from $62,640 (middle school) to $76,460 (high school), according to May 2025 BLS data.
- Minnesota outpaces the national job market. State DEED projections show growth in every teaching category through 2034, while national BLS projections show a slight decline.
- Every teacher earns a TRA pension. Current contribution rates are 8.0% from teachers and 9.81% from employing districts, funding a lifetime benefit based on high-five average salary and years of service.
- Health benefits are set locally, not statewide. Coverage and premium costs depend on your specific school district.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in Minnesota, including application requirements and licensing timelines for your certification path.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage estimates and 2024-2034 employment projections for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers, reflect state and national data, not school-specific outcomes. State or district job-growth projections are sourced separately from national BLS outlook data. Conditions vary by school sector, subject area, and district. Data accessed July 2026.
