Teachers have gone on strike in LA, the second biggest school district in the US — here's how much money teachers make in every state

Teachers in Los Angeles have gone on strike for the first time in 30 years to demand salary increases , smaller class sizes, and more support staff at schools, following the lead of other states last year.
The average salary for a public school teacher was $59,850 during the 2016-2017 academic year, the most recent for which data is available.
With nearly 31,000 school staff members on strike, the LA teacher strike is affecting nearly half a million students and their families, the LA Times reports.
Here's a look at how much teachers make in every state in the US.

Los Angeles teachers have gone on strike for the first time in 30 years to protest low wages and large class sizes and to demand more support staff.

The Los Angeles school district is the second largest school district in the US , behind New York City. According to the Los Angeles Times , almost half a million students and their families are currently affected by the strike. The New York Times reports that its effects can be felt in over 900 schools.

The citys last strike, in 1989 , lasted over a week, and this one is expected to last at least two days.

Last February, West Virginia's public school teachers went on strike to protest the 1% and 2% salary increases scheduled over the next few years. After nine days, state legislators approved a 5% raise.

The West Virginia teacher walkout encouraged other states such as Oklahoma and Kentucky to follow suit. Technically, these are referred to as "walkouts" because, in many states, teacher strikes are illegal.

average teacher salary by state 2016 2017 map BusinessInsider USA Images

Nationwide, the average public school teacher salary for the 2016-2017 school year was $59,850 . While the nominal teacher salary has increased, when adjusted for inflation, average salary has dropped over time about 1.6% lower than the $41,407 average in the 1999-2000 school year.

Below, find out how much teachers make in each state. Salary data comes from the NEA , and inflation-adjusted salary increases were calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics . The amount spent per student comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 's 2015 total public school spending per state.

51. South Dakota

BusinessInsider USA Images

Dirk Lammers/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $42,668

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 2.4%

State spending per student: $8,937

50. Mississippi

BusinessInsider USA Images

Rogelio V. Solis/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $42,925

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -6.0%

State spending per student: $8,456

49. Oklahoma

BusinessInsider USA Images

Sue Ogrocki/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $45,245

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 0.9%

State spending per student: $8,082

48. West Virginia

BusinessInsider USA Images

Tyler Evert/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $45,701

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -8.9%

State spending per student: $11,359

47. Colorado

BusinessInsider USA Images

Duane Prokop/Getty

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $46,506

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -15.0%

State spending per student: $9,245

46. Utah

BusinessInsider USA Images

Rick Bowmer/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $47,244

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -5.7%

State spending per student: $6,575

45. Arizona

BusinessInsider USA Images

Ross D. Franklin/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $47,403

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -10.4%

State spending per student: $7,489

44. New Mexico

BusinessInsider USA Images

Morgan Lee/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $47,500

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 1.8%

State spending per student: $9,752

43. Idaho

BusinessInsider USA Images

Kate Haake/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $47,504

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 2.4%

State spending per student: $8,937

42. Kansas

BusinessInsider USA Images

Charlie Riedel/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $47,984

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -4.3%

State spending per student: $10,040

41. Missouri

BusinessInsider USA Images

Jeff Roberson/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $48,293

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -5.5%

State spending per student: $10,147

40. Tennessee

BusinessInsider USA Images

Sanford Myers/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $48,456

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -6.9%

State spending per student: $8,726

39. South Carolina

BusinessInsider USA Images

Jae C. Hong/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $48,598

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -6.0%

State spending per student: $9,953

38. Arkansas

BusinessInsider USA Images

Danny Johnston/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $48,616

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 1.6%

State spending per student: $9,694

37. Alabama

BusinessInsider USA Images

Jeff White/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $48,868

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -7.1%

State spending per student: $9,128

36. Florida

BusinessInsider USA Images

J Pat Carter/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $49,407

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -6.1%

State spending per student: $8,881

35. North Carolina

BusinessInsider USA Images

Gerry Broome/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $49,837

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -11.8%

State spending per student: $8,687

34. Louisiana

BusinessInsider USA Images

Gerald Herbert/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $50,000

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 5.4%

State spending per student: $11,010

33. Indiana

BusinessInsider USA Images

Darron Cummings/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $50,554

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -15.7%

State spending per student: $9,687

32. Virginia

BusinessInsider USA Images

Steve Helber/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $51,049

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -8.1%

State spending per student: $11,237

31. Maine

BusinessInsider USA Images

Robert F. Bukaty/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $51,077

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 0.2%

State spending per student: $13,257

30. Montana

BusinessInsider USA Images

Michelle Dahlberg/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $51,422

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 11.7%

State spending per student: $11,028

29. North Dakota

BusinessInsider USA Images

Dave Kolpack/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $51,618

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 20.6%

State spending per student: $13,320

28. Nebraska

BusinessInsider USA Images

Nati Harnik/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $52,338

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 9.9%

State spending per student: $11,946

27. Kentucky

BusinessInsider USA Images

Timothy D. Easley/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $52,339

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 0.4%

State spending per student: $9,630

26. Texas

BusinessInsider USA Images

Eric Gay/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $52,575

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -2.4%

State spending per student: $8,861

25. Washington

BusinessInsider USA Images

Elaine Thompson/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $54,147

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -8.0%

State spending per student: $10,735

24. Georgia

BusinessInsider USA Images

Todd Stone/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $54,602

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -7.1%

State spending per student: $9,427

23. Wisconsin

BusinessInsider USA Images

Morry Gash/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $54,998

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -6.8%

State spending per student: $11,375

22. Iowa

BusinessInsider USA Images

Steve Pope/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $55,443

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 8.4%

State spending per student: $10,944

21. Ohio

BusinessInsider USA Images

Tony Dejak/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $57,000

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -4.0%

State spending per student: $11,637

20. New Hampshire

BusinessInsider USA Images

Jim Cole/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $57,253

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 5.9%

State spending per student: $14,697

19. Minnesota

BusinessInsider USA Images

Jim Mone/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $57,346

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 0.5%

State spending per student: $11,949

18. Nevada

BusinessInsider USA Images

Julie Jacobson/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $57,376

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 1.6%

State spending per student: $8,615

17. Hawaii

BusinessInsider USA Images

Jennifer Sinco Kelleher/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $57,674

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -0.8%

State spending per student: $12,855

16. Wyoming

BusinessInsider USA Images

Mead Gruver/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $58,650

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 19.9%

State spending per student: $16,055

15. Vermont

BusinessInsider USA Images

Tony Talbot/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $60,187

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 11.2%

State spending per student: $18,039

14. Delaware

BusinessInsider USA Images

Steve Ruark/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $60,214

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -5.5%

State spending per student: $14,120

13. Illinois

BusinessInsider USA Images

Peter Wynn Thompson/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $61,602

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -7.5%

State spending per student: $13,755

12. Oregon

BusinessInsider USA Images

Don Ryan/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $61,631

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 1.6%

State spending per student: $10,442

11. Michigan

BusinessInsider USA Images

Carlos Osorio/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $62,200

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -11.5%

State spending per student: $11,482

10. Pennsylvania

BusinessInsider USA Images

Matt Rourke/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $62,200

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -11.5%

State spending per student: $11,482

9. Rhode Island

BusinessInsider USA Images

Steven Senne/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $66,477

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -1.4%

State spending per student: $15,179

8. Maryland

BusinessInsider USA Images

Patrick Semansky/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $66,961

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 6.1%

State spending per student: $14,192

7. Alaska

BusinessInsider USA Images

Seanna O'Sullivan/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $68,138

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 2.3%

State spending per student: $20,172

6. New Jersey

BusinessInsider USA Images

Julio Cortez/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $69,623

Change in adjustedsalary since 1999-2000: -6.6%

State spending per student: $18,235

5. Connecticut

BusinessInsider USA Images

Elise Amendola/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $72,561

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -2.2%

State spending per student: $18,377

4. Washington, DC

BusinessInsider USA Images

Brendan Hoffman/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $76,131

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 12.8%

State spending per student: $19,396

3. Massachusetts

BusinessInsider USA Images

Mary Altaffer/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $77,804

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 16.5%

State spending per student: $15,592

2. California

BusinessInsider USA Images

Reed Saxon/AP

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $78,711

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 15.2%

State spending per student: $10,467

1. New York

BusinessInsider USA Images

Getty

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $79,637

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 8.9%

State spending per student: $21,206

Teachers have gone on strike in LA, the second biggest school district in the US — here's how much money teachers make in every state

51. South Dakota

50. Mississippi

49. Oklahoma

48. West Virginia

47. Colorado

46. Utah

45. Arizona

44. New Mexico

43. Idaho

42. Kansas

41. Missouri

40. Tennessee

39. South Carolina

38. Arkansas

37. Alabama

36. Florida

35. North Carolina

34. Louisiana

33. Indiana

32. Virginia

31. Maine

30. Montana

29. North Dakota

28. Nebraska

27. Kentucky

26. Texas

25. Washington

24. Georgia

23. Wisconsin

22. Iowa

21. Ohio

20. New Hampshire

19. Minnesota

18. Nevada

17. Hawaii

16. Wyoming

15. Vermont

14. Delaware

13. Illinois

12. Oregon

11. Michigan

10. Pennsylvania

9. Rhode Island

8. Maryland

7. Alaska

6. New Jersey

5. Connecticut

4. Washington, DC

3. Massachusetts

2. California

1. New York

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!