The salary of teachers is based largely on experience and education. According to Education Week, teachers in Maryland holding a bachelor's degree earn an average of 28,980 while those with a Master's degree earned an average of 40,905. The average salary for beginning teachers in the U.S. was 25,167 in 1996.
Curriculum can vary from classroom to classroom depending on what a teacher wants to emphasize.
It would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the National Science Education Standards.