NYC Private School Teachers Earn Up to $17,000 Less Than Tuition at Some Elite Schools

A Post investigation found that full-time teachers at several top New York City private schools earn less than the tuition parents pay for kindergarten. At some institutions, the gap reaches more than $17,000 per pupil. At Collegiate, a lower school substitute teacher can earn between $25 and $50 per hour.

Tuition stands at $68,900. A former teacher at the school said she started at $55,000 and found it impossible to live on that salary in New York without additional work.

Dalton, a recent job posting listed salaries of $66,000 to $69,000 for associate teachers. Tuition at the school is $67,480. At Riverdale Country School, associate teachers in lower school subjects earn $52,000 to $60,000 while tuition is $59,000. Tuition there is $71,600.

At Brearley, a lower school associate teaching position pays $63,700 against tuition of $66,800. At Grace Church School, lower school and early childhood associate teachers earn $60,000 to $62,000. Tuition for the 2025-2026 school year was $68,500.

Heads of school at several institutions receive more than $1 million in total compensation. At Riverdale Country School, the head received $983,000 in base pay plus $192,000 in other payments in 2023. A spokesperson for Ethical Culture Fieldston School said the median teacher salary is $137,000. The school's top earner, its CEO, received $949,000 in 2024.

Comparisons and Teacher Perspectives

Public school starting salaries in New York City are $68,900 for a bachelor's degree and $77,500 for a master's degree. A former teacher at Grace Church School said private school teachers often accept lower pay for a more desirable work environment and fewer disciplinary issues.

The Post contacted Brearley, Dalton, Collegiate, Nightingale-Bamford, Riverdale, and Grace Church School but received no reply from those institutions.