With the current economy and job loss, many are looking for options to supplement their income. Some are looking for a new career completely because of job loss. Teaching has become the light at the end of the tunnel for many individuals who have spent most of their working lives in the corporate world. The old cliche saying is “there is no money in teaching” or teachers don’t get paid very well. I beg to differ. There are many other occupations which take several more years to earn what teachers in some geo-graphic areas and of certain specialties earn their first year. I will agree that these are the main distinctions on pay grade: expertise and location. The more specific your expertise and less of a generalist you are, the more your teaching skills are valued. For example a high school Physics teacher may get more starting out than an elementary school teacher. However, an elementary teacher in a public school in an disadvantaged area may receive more in order to attract good teachers to the area. Unlike some occupations such as a sales professional, for example, you can easily determine and plan for what you will be paid.
Please see the list of websites below, which give average teacher salaries on state, city, even a district by district level.

Teacher Salary - Average Teacher Salaries - PayScale

Teacher Salaries by District