The average salary for a physical education teacher in the United States is around $77,270 per year.
Avg Salary
Physical education teachers earn an average yearly salary of $77,270.
Wages typically start from $44,900 and go up to $134,890.
24% above national average Updated in 2025
Physical education teacher earnings by seniority
Top-level physical education teacher earnings begin at:
$64.85 per hour
$134,890 per year
Senior-level physical education teacher earnings begin at:
$48.77 per hour
$101,450 per year
Mid-level physical education teacher earnings begin at:
$37.15 per hour
$77,270 per year
Junior-level physical education teacher earnings begin at:
$28.84 per hour
$59,990 per year
Starting level physical education teacher earnings begin at:
$21.59 per hour
$44,900 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Physical education teacher salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $97,640 |
| Massachusetts | $87,960 |
| Michigan | $83,690 |
| Wyoming | $83,260 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,150 |
| Wisconsin | $80,500 |
| Minnesota | $80,410 |
| New York | $80,190 |
| Connecticut | $79,200 |
| New Mexico | $79,090 |
| South Carolina | $78,800 |
| New Hampshire | $77,730 |
| Texas | $76,480 |
| Utah | $76,350 |
| Florida | $76,100 |
| Iowa | $75,130 |
| Washington | $74,850 |
| North Carolina | $73,860 |
| Tennessee | $73,280 |
| Missouri | $73,180 |
| Alabama | $72,680 |
| Arizona | $71,230 |
| Ohio | $70,260 |
| Maine | $67,670 |
| Illinois | $67,180 |
| Indiana | $67,060 |
| West Virginia | $66,440 |
| Georgia | $66,410 |
| Louisiana | $65,940 |
| New Jersey | $65,900 |
| Colorado | $65,730 |
| Virginia | $65,320 |
| Kentucky | $64,890 |
| North Dakota | $64,320 |
| Oklahoma | $63,590 |
| Oregon | $63,090 |
| Arkansas | $63,020 |
| South Dakota | $62,280 |
| Mississippi | $60,560 |
| Kansas | $59,730 |
| District of Columbia | $58,890 |
| Idaho | $58,720 |
| Nebraska | $58,470 |
| Alaska | $58,330 |
| Puerto Rico | $57,780 |
| Nevada | $48,090 |
| Vermont | $37,590 |
| California | $127,780 |
How do physical education teacher salaries compare to similar careers?
Physical education teachers earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than principals but more than health educators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Principal salary | $106K |
| Distance learning coordinator salary | $95K |
| Fitness and wellness coordinator salary | $95K |
| School psychologist salary | $96K |
| Music teacher salary | $79K |
| Physical education teacher salary | $77K |
| Nurse educator salary | $80K |
| Professor salary | $75K |
| High school teacher salary | $72K |
| Health educator salary | $64K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)