Compare · California vs Texas
Los Angeles Unified vs Houston Independent School District
Side by side from the two published grids: Certificated salary schedule (Form J-90, 2024-25) and Pay-for-Performance compensation table (2026-27). Green marks the higher figure (fewer steps to the top counts as higher).
- Los Angeles Unified starts at $60,420 and tops out at $122,706 (2024-25); Houston Independent School District starts at $64,000 and tops out at $101,000 (2026-27).
- Difference at the lowest cell: $3,580 in favor of Houston Independent School District; at the highest cell: $21,706 in favor of Los Angeles Unified.
- The two schedules are for different school years, so part of any gap is timing; each page shows its own effective date.
Los Angeles Unified
California · 2024-25 · official document
Houston Independent School District
Texas · 2026-27 · official document
| Measure | Los Angeles Unified | Houston Independent School District |
|---|---|---|
| School year | 2024-25 | 2026-27 |
| Effective date | January 1, 2025 | July 1, 2026 |
| Lowest cell (starting salary) | $60,420 | $64,000 |
| Bachelor's column start | $60,420 | – |
| Bachelor's column top | $76,034 | – |
| Master's column start | – | – |
| Master's column top | – | – |
| Highest cell | $122,706 | $101,000 |
| Steps to the highest cell | 30 | 6 |
| Columns x steps | 24 x 30 | 5 x 6 |
| Work days | 183 | – |
| Starting cell per work day | $330.16 | – |
| NCES enrollment 2023-24 | 419,929 | 184,109 |
Step ladder on the bachelor's (or lowest) column
Los Angeles Unified: BA NON-CRED. Houston Independent School District: PFP Main. Rows are the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th step rows of each grid and its last row; steps are labeled as each district labels them.
| Row | Los Angeles Unified | Houston Independent School District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1: $60,420 | Unsatisfactory: $64,000 |
| 2 | 5: $64,641 | Proficient II: $86,000 |
| 3 | 10: $76,034 | Exemplary I: $92,000 |
| 4 | – | – |
| 5 | – | – |
| top row | – | – |
Schedules differ in what they include (some districts fold supplements or pension pickups into the grid, some do not) and in the length of the work year, so a cell-to-cell comparison is a starting point, not a ranking of total pay. More: all comparisons, rankings.