Education Spending by State – How Does Your State Compare?
The U.S. spent an average of $17,619 in current spending per pupil on public K-12 education in fiscal year 2024, according to the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of School System Finances. New York and the District of Columbia spend the most per student, while Idaho and Utah spend the least. Spending levels vary widely because states split funding differently across state, local, and federal sources.
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New York spent $31,918 in current spending per pupil in fiscal year 2024, more than double what Idaho spent on the same measure. Spending levels may influence staffing, class-size policies, employee compensation, and available services. Still, the mix of expenditures differs by state and district, which is why education spending by state is worth understanding if you’re weighing where to teach or how your state’s schools are funded compared to the rest of the country.
How Much the U.S. Spends on Education
Public school current spending per pupil rose 6.6% nationally, from $16,526 in fiscal year 2023 to $17,619 in fiscal year 2024. Total elementary and secondary education revenue reached $994.9 billion in FY 2024, up 5.1% from the year before.
State governments contributed the largest share of that funding at 45.2% ($450.0 billion), followed by local sources at 43.2% ($429.8 billion) and the federal government at 11.6% ($115.1 billion). Federal funding actually dropped 4.4% from FY 2023, even as total spending climbed. Instructional salaries made up the single largest expenditure category, accounting for $291.8 billion, or 29.7% of total expenditures.
Current Spending Per Pupil by State
The table below ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia by current K-12 spending per pupil, compiled from Census Bureau school finance data. New York, the District of Columbia, and Vermont rank highest. Idaho, Utah, and Arizona spend the least per student.
| Rank | State | Current Spending Per Pupil |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $31,918 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $31,529 |
| 3 | Vermont | $28,818 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $27,234 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $26,316 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $23,878 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $22,978 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $22,947 |
| 9 | Delaware | $22,201 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $22,110 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $21,091 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $20,521 |
| 13 | Alaska | $20,340 |
| 14 | Illinois | $20,253 |
| 15 | California | $20,233 |
| 16 | Maryland | $20,208 |
| 17 | Maine | $19,962 |
| 18 | Washington | $18,564 |
| 19 | Michigan | $18,314 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $17,844 |
| 21 | Ohio | $17,257 |
| 22 | Oregon | $17,161 |
| 23 | Virginia | $17,104 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $17,102 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $17,098 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $16,147 |
| 27 | Colorado | $15,897 |
| 28 | Georgia | $15,833 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $15,790 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $15,060 |
| 31 | Kansas | $14,847 |
| 32 | Nevada | $14,812 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $14,645 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $14,596 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $14,575 |
| 36 | Iowa | $14,369 |
| 37 | Missouri | $14,241 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $13,873 |
| 39 | Montana | $13,656 |
| 40 | Indiana | $13,622 |
| 41 | Alabama | $13,598 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $12,995 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $12,828 |
| 44 | Florida | $12,689 |
| 45 | Texas | $12,444 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $12,324 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $12,197 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $12,162 |
| 49 | Arizona | $12,003 |
| 50 | Utah | $11,347 |
| 51 | Idaho | $11,060 |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances, final FY2024 summary tables. Figures are current spending per pupil and are not adjusted for inflation or geographic cost-of-living differences. | ||
What Education Spending Means for Teachers
Several high-spending states also report comparatively high teacher salaries and benefits, but this article does not establish a direct state-by-state relationship between spending and pay. Salaries are also affected by experience, local labor markets, collective bargaining, cost of living, and state and district policy. Spending levels may influence staffing, class-size policies, employee compensation, and available services, but the mix of expenditures differs by state and district.
New York tops this spending list, and its own New York teaching salaries page breaks down what that funding looks like at the district level. Spending levels can also affect the resources available for new-teacher support, such as mentorship programs and induction funding tied to a state’s certification requirements. If you’re deciding where to pursue certification, pairing this spending data with a state’s specific salary and licensing requirements gives a fuller picture than either figure alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which jurisdiction spends the most per student?
New York has the highest statewide figure, followed by the District of Columbia. Both spend more than $30,000 in current spending per pupil annually according to the latest Census Bureau data. Vermont, New Jersey, and Connecticut round out the top five.
Which state spends the least on education per student?
Idaho spends the least, followed by Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. These states typically spend less than half of what the highest-spending states allocate per student.
How is public school funding divided between federal, state, and local government?
Nationally, state governments provide the largest share of K-12 funding at roughly 45%, followed by local sources like property taxes at about 43%, with the federal government contributing around 12%. The exact split varies quite a bit by state.
Does higher education spending mean higher teacher salaries?
Several high-spending states also report comparatively high teacher salaries, but this data does not establish a direct state-by-state relationship. Salaries are also affected by experience, local labor markets, collective bargaining, cost of living, and state and district policy.
Where does this education spending data come from?
These figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of School System Finances, the federal government’s primary source for public school revenue and expenditure data by state.
- National current spending per pupil reached $17,619 in FY 2024, up 6.6% from FY2023.
- New York and DC spend the most per student, both over $30,000 annually, more than double the lowest-spending states.
- State governments fund the largest share of K-12 education, at roughly 45%, ahead of local and federal sources.
- Several high-spending states also report higher teacher salaries, but this data doesn’t establish a direct state-by-state relationship between the two.
- Spending data is one piece of the puzzle when comparing states for certification and teaching opportunities.
Compare certification requirements, salary expectations, and licensing steps for your state to see how spending levels connect to your own teaching career.
