Physical Education Teacher Salaries: A Comprehensive Overview

Physical education (PE) teachers play a crucial role in shaping students' attitudes towards physical fitness and health. They design learning experiences that cater to the developmental needs of students, using standards-based physical and health education programs. These programs not only promote physical fitness but also provide opportunities for students to develop teamwork and positive social skills. Whether teaching at the elementary, middle, or high school level, or leading adaptive physical education programs for children with disabilities, PE teachers serve as both educators and coaches, promoting everything from interpersonal skills to hygiene and nutrition. This career path offers personal fulfillment, professional opportunities, and respectable salaries.

The Role of Physical Education Teachers

Physical education teachers are vital to learning as they contribute to the overall improvement of education across America. A physical education teacher engages students in physical activity during their school day. Physical athletic activity is a main focus of P.E. Physical education teachers should be well grounded in classroom management and school procedures. With a renewed focus on improving core curriculum standards for English language arts and math, physical education teachers are expected to incorporate reading, writing, and arithmetic into their courses. Many physical education teachers continue their own love of sports by coaching after-school sports teams in the afternoons, evenings, and occasionally weekends within their district. There are many constants within the profession of teaching physical education, regardless of the grade level.

Salary Overview for Physical Education Teachers

Similar to their general education counterparts, physical education teachers are typically paid according to a fixed salary schedule implemented by their school district or state educational agency.

According to Salary.com the average base salary for a Physical Education Teacher in 2024 is $55,283.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the following salary range (50th-90th percentile) for teachers, according to grade level:

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Elementary school teachers: $59,670 - $97,900
Middle school teachers: $59,660 - $96,280
High school teachers: $61,660 - $99,660

The BLS also highlighted the top-paying states in the nation (according to annual, mean salary) for teachers, as of May 2019:

Elementary school teachers:
- New York: $82,830
- California: $82,560
- Massachusetts: $82,450
- Washington D.C.: $79,390
- Connecticut: $78,070
Middle school teachers:
- New York: $87,050
- Alaska: $80,730
- Massachusetts: $80,520
- California: $80,160
- Connecticut: $79,510
High school teachers:
- New York: $87,240
- California: $85,080
- Massachusetts: $81,070
- Connecticut: $78,540
- New Jersey: $78,090

It's important to note that these figures are from 2019, and salaries may have changed since then.

Factors Influencing Physical Education Teacher Salaries

Several factors can affect the salary of a physical education teacher, including education level, experience, and additional responsibilities.

Graduate Degree

While a bachelor’s degree within an approved teacher preparatory program is the minimum educational requirement to become a physical education teacher, earning an advanced level of education is a great way to earn a bigger paycheck.

For example, education teachers with a bachelor’s degree and five years’ experience in the Dodge City Public Schools in Dodge City, Kansas earn a salary of $45,766. However, teachers with higher levels of education earn significantly more:

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BS+15: $47,800
BS+30: $49,833
MS: $53,442
MS+15: $54,993
MS+30: $56,543
EdSpec: $58,093
PhD/EdD: $59,618

Physical education teachers in the North Carolina Public schools are also rewarded for achieving higher levels of education. For example, a teacher with a bachelor’s teacher and three years of experience earns an annual salary of $38,000, while a teacher with a master’s degree and the same number of years of experience earns $41,800.

Experience

As expected, experience plays a large role in how much you’ll earn as a physical education teacher. Most school districts have salary schedules that include yearly pay increments to reward teachers for their hard work. For example, teachers with the Independence School District in Independence, Missouri, earn $40,434 with three years of experience and a bachelor’s degree. Their salary then increases as follows:

4 years’ experience: $40,901
5 years’ experience: $41,543
6 years’ experience: $42,960
7 years’ experience: $44,377
8 years’ experience: $45,794
9 years’ experience: $47,212
10 years’ experience: $48,629

Athletic Supplements

Many physical education teachers also enjoy serving as coaches in the district in which they teach. A coaching position is a great way to earn supplemental income, as most school districts pay a stipend to PE teachers who serve as coaches.

For example, coaches with the Hillsborough County Public Schools (Tampa, FL) earn an income supplement that ranges from $868 as an assistant flag football coach to $3,736 for a head football coach. Even coaches of intramural sports within the school district earn a supplement of $400 for their work.

Similarly, physical education teachers with the Des Moines Public Schools also earn extra duty pay for serving as a coach in any number of sports. For example, a wrestling coach earns a salary supplement of $7,418, an assistant track coach earns a salary supplement of $4,048, and a cross country head coach earns an additional $5,036.

The Demand for Physical Education Teachers

If there’s one area of education that most people wouldn’t imagine a shortage of qualified teachers, it would be physical education. But they’d be wrong.

The demand for physical education teachers continues to trump supply. Department of Education, 22 states and Washington D.C. While the demand for physical education and health teachers is strong and plenty of jobs are available, the position statement reveals that there are simply not enough physical education teachers to meet the demand. are expected to experience the largest drop in programs, largely due to program reductions and fewer applicants. A 2016 survey of 200 California schools reported that 12% of the districts reported shortages of physical education teachers.

Grade Level Considerations

Numerous factors come into play when determining what grade level to teach. Elementary P.E. teachers generally teach students grades K-5 (children aged 5-12). The Society of Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) offers standards for K-12 physical education, beginning with elementary schools. Middle school P.E. teachers generally teach students from grades 6-8 and are trained to understand the psychological, social, and intellectual development of children ages 11-14. Teaching students of this age combines elements of teaching both high school and elementary students. The time during middle school is when youth are most transformed. They enter as children and leave as teens. Procedures are extremely important to facilitate a smooth transition from elementary to middle school. As adolescence progresses within this age group, locker room management is a key function of physical education at the middle school level. High school physical education teachers generally teach grades 9-12 (students aged 14-18).

Postsecondary physical education instructors have opportunities to train future P.E. teachers through innovative techniques in athletics, physiology, aerobics, nutrition, and health. Postsecondary physical education teachers work in junior colleges, state and private colleges, and universities. Postsecondary physical education teachers teach in lecture halls and medium-size classrooms, gymnasiums and outdoor sporting facilities, and even online. They specialize in teaching tomorrow’s physical education teachers, who earn credentials to teach elementary, intermediate-level, or high school students.

Postsecondary teachers have more flexibility over the format of their instructional methods than their K-12 counterparts. They also have greater control over their schedules, with many postsecondary instructors teaching part time, as well as full time. With today’s computer technology, the advent of relatively affordable telecommunications and online college courses, postsecondary teachers have additional teaching options. Many online instructors work in adjunct teaching roles.

Education and Certification

A bachelor’s degree - preferably in physical education, kinesiology or physiology, physical therapy, or nutrition and health - is a minimum education requirement for beginning physical education teachers at the middle- and high-school levels. Teachers come from various backgrounds of study. Most future teachers enroll in a teacher education program in college. These programs offer studies relating to classroom management and curriculum development, with a semester-long student teaching practicum. A state-issued teaching certificate or license is generally required to teach. Specific certification and licensing requirements vary from state to state. Teachers are often required to complete years of teaching and take professional development courses as a condition of certification.

For teachers, a significant goal in the traditional academic career is to attain tenure. Tenure is often seen as a guarantee for a lifetime position. Teachers enter education on probationary status and can be terminated without just cause and/or proper documentation before tenure is granted. The process for tenure can take three to four years. During this time, teachers are evaluated by administrators, mentors, and often peers on their job performance.

Job Satisfaction and Career Advancement

Based on 9 responses, the job of Physical Education Teacher has received a job satisfaction rating of 4.44 out of 5. On average, Physical Education Teachers are highly satisfied with their job.

Salary ranges for elementary, middle, and high school teachers can vary depending on the state, school district, experience, and degree. According to Career Explorer, the median annual salary for physical education teachers is $39,293. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics states that the employment of elementary and secondary teachers is projected to grow 4% from 2018-2028. Employment growth for public school teachers may depend on state and local government budgets. Postsecondary teachers employed at a state four-year institution have a median salary of $81,120. Employment of postsecondary teachers overall is projected to grow 11% from 2018 to 2028.

Professional associations for physical education instructors offer webinars, correspondence courses, one-day seminars, symposiums, and other continuing education platforms to help teachers advance their knowledge of physical education and health industry best practices. Physical education teachers seeking professional development can also benefit from learning to leverage computers. The internet is ideal for physical education teachers as a tool for research, lesson planning, and presentations.

Increasing Salary Potential

Increasing your pay as a Physical Education Teacher is possible in different ways. Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions.

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