High performing teachers can make over $100,000 per year
What to know: Midland ISD trustees approved the district’s 2026-27 compensation plan in June, and the document outlines what the district plans to pay newly hired employees, listing over 300 different job roles. A newly hired teacher with 10 years of experience earns over $70,000 per year, while a principal can earn over $155,000 per year, both before any incentives or stipends. Employee compensation is the district’s largest expense.
The median household income in Texas is about $79,700 per year, and in Midland County, it is about $92,900.
Why it matters: MISD teachers are on a 187-day work calendar for the 2026-2027 school year, while principals are on a 226-day work calendar. Custodians, comparatively, earn hourly on a 236-day work calendar, earning between roughly $27,187-$36,985 annually. Or a level I cafeteria worker earns an hourly rate on a 172-day work calendar, earning roughly $19,814-$27,932. The average employee in Texas works about 240 days a year.
Editor’s note: This schedule applies only to new hires for the 2026-27 school year. The district pays existing employees in accordance with their current contracts and any raises approved by the board of trustees.
Teacher Base Pay
| Experience | 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| 0 years | $61,600 |
| 10 years | $70,822 |
| 20 years | $75,222 |
| 30+ years | $80,222 |
Principal Base Pay
| Position | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Elementary | $94,231-$125,575 |
| Junior High/Freshman High | $99,885-$133,107 |
| Senior High | $112,867-$155,861 |
Teachers can qualify for additional stipends, which range from $ 1,000 for an unrelated teaching master’s degree to $15,000 for an offensive football coordinator. Also, Teacher Incentive Allotments can add between $3,000 and $36,000 annually, and Principal Incentive Allotments between $2,500 and $15,000 annually. Teachers and principals can obtain incentive allotments by meeting high performance standards.