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Friday, Feb. 6, 2026

Does Florida have the highest starting teacher pay in the Southeast?

Clinton Engelberger | Suncoast Searchlight, Suncoast Searchlight
no

Florida ranks second behind Virginia in highest starting teacher salaries in the Southeast, but it’s close.

The Sunshine State had an average starting teacher salary of $48,639 in 2025, just a hair below the $48,666 average in Virginia. Although Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida was the top state, his claim might as well come down to a rounding error given the small difference.

In overall teacher pay for 2025, Florida ranks last in the country with an average salary of $54,875. Virginia is 26th in the nation with an average of $66,327. 

Florida starting pay average was the 17th highest in the country, indicating little room for salary growth given its dead-last overall ranking.

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