Pennsylvania Teaching Salaries and Benefits
Evaluating and improving its teacher workforce has been a primary goal for the state of Pennsylvania for years. By participating in workshops, seminars, and other training exercises, teachers continually hone their skills and learn to become more effective leaders in the classroom.
To compensate teachers for their hard work and dedication to improvement, Pennsylvania offers a comprehensive salary and benefits package. With this package, teachers enjoy a state retirement pension plan and affordable health insurance, giving them added financial security for the future.
Sponsored School(s)
Learn more about becoming a teacher. Contact schools offering teacher education/certification programs in Pennsylvania.
Teacher Salaries in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania:
| Experience | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| At 3 years | $41,111 | $42,321 |
| At 6 years | $54,564 | $56,526 |
| At 9 years | $59,131 | $63,956 |
| At 12 years | $61,364 | $69,300 |
Source: The School District of Philadelphia
Retiring in Pennsylvania
After you begin employment as a teacher in Pennsylvania, you are registered for the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS). The PSERS is a defined benefit plan that offers you a monthly pension once you perform a specified amount of service and terminate your employment.
You qualify for these full monthly retirement pension benefits if you meet the following requirements:
- At age 65 with three years of service
- If your age and 35 years of service added together equal 92
As a new member, you will choose between two separate contribution options that may fluctuate over time. If you choose class T-E, your contribution rate will be between 7.5% and 9.5% of your yearly salary. If you choose class T-F, your contribution will be between 10.3% and 12.3%.
You’ll receive monthly statements from the PSERS that allow you to track your contributions and likely retirement benefits. These statements include your account interest, years of service, wages, and an estimation of retirement benefits.
To estimate your monthly benefits, the system uses a preset formula dependent on the class you choose:
Class T-E
Final Average Salary
multiplied by
Years of Credit Service
multiplied by
2.0%
For example, if you worked for 30 years with a final average salary of $60,000, your monthly retirement payment would be $3,000.
Class T-F
Final Average Salary
multiplied by
Years of Credit Service
multiplied by
2.5%
For example, if you worked for 33 years with a final average salary of $65,000, your monthly retirement payment would be $4,468.75.
To learn more about all of the retirement options available to teachers in Pennsylvania, contact the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS).
Access to Affordable Health Insurance
Individuals with insurance are more likely to participate in regular checkups and monitor their health. To ensure its workforce remains healthy and fit to serve, the Pennsylvania Employees Benefits Trust Fund (PEBTF) provides health benefits for public teachers and their dependents.
Teachers have the option of choosing from several different kinds of health insurance plans to fit their exact needs. These plans include:
Preferred Provider Option (PPO)
This plan offers both an in-network and an out-of-network benefit; however you receive the highest level of benefits through in-network providers. You will be responsible for a small co-payment for most medical services.
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
Treatment for medical services in this plan must be coordinated with your primary care physician. This plan includes wellness benefits in addition to medical benefits.
Consumer Driven Health Plan
There are two parts to this plan: it has the same medical benefit plan as the PPO, and you are required to have a health reimbursement account. This account is used to pay for expenses you would normally pay for out-of-pocket.
Each plan covers a wide-variety of medical services, including:
- Primary Care Physician Visits
- Hospital Care
- Well Child Visits
- Emergency Room
- Specialized Doctor Visits
As an active member of the PEBTF, you also qualify for additional health benefits through the program. Other additional benefits include:
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse
- Prescription Drug Coverage
- Vision Benefit
- Dental Benefit
- Hearing Aid Benefit
If you’re interested in learning more the benefits available to teachers, explore information provided by the Pennsylvania Employees Benefits Trust Fund.
