The Big Apple Has the Biggest Apples? Teacher Salaries Ranked

Well, it's official. New York is one of the states that pay its teachers the highest salaries in the nation.

For anyone who has ever dreamed of becoming a teacher, look to teach in our own backyard of New York. USA facts and US News & World Report state that New York teachers' average salary is $76,680 – the highest in the United States. But what about within New York State? Which cities and regions are paying their teachers the most money?

Tim Boyle, Getty Images

Let's start with the big one - NYC. This bustling metropolis is home to some of the highest-paying teaching jobs in all of NYS. According to recent studies, teachers in NYC can expect to make between $57,000 and $90,000 per year, depending on their experience level. So that's a pretty impressive paycheck!

Getty Images

But what about upstate? Although salaries may be lower than in NYC, there are still plenty of great opportunities for educators across New York State. Specifically, teachers in Buffalo can expect to make an average salary of around $58,000 per year, while those residing in Rochester receive an annual average wage of $59,000.

Photo by Yassine Khalfalli on Unsplash

Teachers based in Saratoga Springs make between $54K and $90K per year, while those working in Albany County expect salaries ranging from $53K to $87K annually. If you are teaching near Syracuse or Utica, you could make anywhere from $52K to about $85K each year. Not too shabby for upstate New York!

Thinkstock/Jetta Productions

There is no denying that New York State is one of the best places for teachers who want to make a decent living from their profession. With so many high-paying cities spread throughout NYS — including NYC and Albany — it's no wonder more educators flock to this area every year.

Here is the list of the top states with the highest teacher salaries.
Wyoming $71.2K
New Jersey $71.3K
Alaska $71.9K
Washington $72.3K
California $73.2K
Connecticut $74.4K
Pennsylvania $75.3K
Rhode Island $76.4K
New York $76.4K

Capital Region's Best 'Old-School' Diners For Breakfast

Explore the Abandoned Middle School at Albany's Kenwood Convent

This abandoned property is part of the Kenwood Convent complex in Albany. If it's the same story as the rest of the property, it's been vacant since 2009. There have been some ownership changes and it appears there is still power in parts of the building. As with the convent, it also looks like work was being done by construction crews to clean out and/or restore the building, but that has since stopped (as of the 2020 date of these photos).

The Albany Business Review says the county was about to hold an auction for the property, but its current owners filed bankruptcy two days prior - putting a hold on any further development or sale of the site.

As we can see from the photo tour, there is some magnificent architecture, window frames, even old murals on the wall depicting the a journey down the Hudson River from the City of Albany to New York City.

The most recent relics are some tools, ladders and construction equipment left at the scene, but there are some other pretty cool finds including an early flat screen TV, some antique door & window frames and a pool table in near perfect condition.

Remarkably, this is one of those abandoned places that has gone relatively untouched by vandals and graffiti artists. Let's hope it stays that way until a new use for the property can be determined. For now, it sits in legal limbo waiting to be renovated and rehabbed. Enjoy the tour!