Wyoming Teacher Salary and Benefits
Wyoming teacher salary figures ranged from a median of $60,990 to $62,690 depending on grade level as of May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Every teacher is enrolled in a defined-benefit pension and gets employer-subsidized health coverage through CIGNA. Job growth is projected near 9 percent through 2034, ahead of the national outlook.
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Wyoming teachers earned a median annual salary ranging from $60,990 for kindergarten teachers to $62,690 for secondary school teachers as of May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay varies by school district, education level, and years of experience, since Wyoming’s district-by-district salary schedules typically reward advanced degrees like a master’s with meaningfully higher pay than a bachelor’s alone. Beyond the paycheck, the state pairs those salaries with a mandatory pension plan and a health insurance program that covers the large majority of premium costs, benefits that are worth understanding before you sign a contract. If you’re still working through licensure, see the teacher certification requirements in Wyoming for the paths available to you.
Wyoming Teacher Salaries by Grade Level
Wyoming teacher salary levels differ by grade band. According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, kindergarten teachers in Wyoming earned a median annual wage of $60,990 in May 2025, while elementary school teachers earned $61,150. Middle school teachers had a median of $62,480, and secondary (high) school teachers earned the most at $62,690. Mean wages for all four grade levels ran a few thousand dollars above the median, meaning top earners pull the average up more than a typical Wyoming teacher’s paycheck reflects.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage | Job Growth (2024–2034) |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $60,990 | 9.2% |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,150 | 8.8% |
| Middle School Teachers | $62,480 | 8.9% |
| Secondary (High) School Teachers | $62,690 | 9.1% |
The Wyoming Department of Education’s labor market projections show 8.8 to 9.2 percent employment growth across all four grade levels between 2024 and 2034, with roughly 470 average annual openings statewide when you add up all four occupations. That outlook is meaningfully stronger than the national trend, where the BLS projects a slight employment decline for these same occupations nationally over the same period, driven mainly by enrollment trends rather than a shrinking need for teachers in Wyoming specifically.
Salaries also climb with experience and education level under most Wyoming district salary schedules, and a master’s degree typically moves a teacher to a higher pay lane than a bachelor’s alone. Contact your prospective district’s human resources office for its current salary schedule, since figures vary meaningfully from one district to the next.
Retirement Benefits for Wyoming Teachers
When you’re hired as a teacher in Wyoming, you’re enrolled in the Wyoming Retirement System’s Public Employee Pension Plan. Once you meet the plan’s service and age requirements, the pension pays you a monthly benefit for life.
While you’re teaching in Wyoming, you and your employer both contribute toward your future retirement each month. A total of 14.12 percent of your monthly salary is contributed: you pay 7 percent, and your employer pays 7.12 percent.
Your contributions sit in a separate account so you can track your balance and accrued interest. Interest on non-retiree accounts is set by the Wyoming Retirement System board and is currently 5.5 percent.
Your monthly pension amount and eligible retirement age depend on which of two tiers you fall into:
Tier 1
Tier 1 covers members who made their first contribution before September 1, 2012. Your benefit is calculated using a multiplier of 2.125 percent for your first 15 years of service and 2.25 percent for years beyond that, applied to your three-year highest average salary (an average of your highest 36 continuous months of salary). Full retirement eligibility begins at age 60.
Tier 2
Tier 2 covers members whose first contribution came on or after September 1, 2012. Your benefit uses a flat 2 percent multiplier for all years of service, applied to your five-year highest average salary (an average of your highest 60 months of salary). Full retirement eligibility begins at age 65.
Wyoming also offers the “Rule of 85”: if your age plus your years of service equal 85 or more, you’re eligible for full retirement benefits regardless of the standard age requirement. For example, a 55-year-old with 30 years of service qualifies for full benefits under this rule.
Because your age and your beneficiary’s age can affect your monthly benefit, you can run an unofficial estimate using the Wyoming Retirement System’s pension benefit calculator. For full plan details, visit the Wyoming Retirement System website.
Health Insurance and Other Benefits for Wyoming Teachers
Wyoming’s public employees, including most teachers, have access to health benefits through the state’s Employees’ Group Insurance program. As a new teacher, you typically have 31 days to enroll yourself and any dependents, with coverage starting the first day of the month after your enrollment. Confirm your district’s specific enrollment window and eligibility, since some districts administer benefits independently.
The state covers roughly 82 percent of the premium for your selected health, dental, and basic life insurance plan. Every plan carries an initial deductible, and in-network, in-state care is generally reimbursed at a higher rate than out-of-network or out-of-state care.
Medical coverage for Wyoming’s Employees’ Group Insurance program is administered through CIGNA Healthcare, and you choose your own deductible level. Generally, a higher deductible means a lower monthly premium.
Deductible options available through the plan include:
- Option 1: $350 individual / $700 family
- Option 2: $750 individual / $1,500 family
- Option 3: $2,000 individual / $4,000 family
- Option 4: $1,500 individual / $3,000 family
All plan options cover a portion of the following:
- Wellness checkups
- Pharmacy benefits
- Lab and X-ray services
- Emergency room care
- Hospital services
- Therapy services
- Family planning services
Wyoming also offers dental, vision, short-term disability, and life insurance beyond the core medical plan. For current plan details and enrollment forms, contact the Wyoming Employees’ Group Insurance office.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do teachers make in Wyoming?
As of May 2025, Wyoming teachers earned a median annual salary between $60,990 and $62,690 depending on grade level, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. High school teachers earn the most on average, followed closely by middle school teachers.
Is Wyoming a good state for teacher pay?
Wyoming’s teacher salaries run close to the middle of the national range, but the state’s mandatory pension plan and heavily subsidized health coverage add real value beyond the paycheck. Wyoming’s projected 8.8 to 9.2 percent job growth for teaching occupations through 2034 is also stronger than the national outlook.
What retirement benefits do Wyoming teachers get?
Wyoming teachers are enrolled in the Wyoming Retirement System’s Public Employee Pension Plan, a defined-benefit pension funded by employee and employer contributions totaling 14.12 percent of salary. Benefit calculations and retirement age depend on whether you’re in Tier 1 or Tier 2.
Do Wyoming teachers get health insurance?
Yes. Wyoming’s Employees’ Group Insurance program covers most teachers, with the state paying roughly 82 percent of the premium for a health, dental, and basic life insurance plan. Coverage is administered through CIGNA Healthcare, with four deductible options to choose from.
What is the Rule of 85 for Wyoming teacher retirement?
The Rule of 85 lets a Wyoming Retirement System member retire with full benefits once their age plus years of service equal 85 or more, even if they haven’t reached the standard retirement age for their tier.
- Salaries vary by grade level — Wyoming’s median annual teacher salary ranges from $60,990 for kindergarten teachers to $62,690 for secondary teachers, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Job growth outpaces the national trend — Wyoming projects 8.8 to 9.2 percent growth across all K-12 teaching occupations through 2034, stronger than the national outlook.
- Retirement is a mandatory, funded pension — the Public Employee Pension Plan draws 14.12 percent of salary from employee and employer contributions combined, with benefit formulas that depend on your tier.
- The Rule of 85 can speed up retirement — age plus years of service equaling 85 or more qualifies you for full benefits ahead of the standard age requirement.
- Health coverage is heavily subsidized — the state covers roughly 82 percent of premiums for CIGNA-administered health, dental, and life insurance, with four deductible tiers to choose from.
Explore Wyoming educator preparation programs and review current Wyoming educator licensure requirements through the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB). Requirements vary by license type, endorsement area, and applicant background.
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.
