Teacher compensation is a hot-button subject that will, in my opinion, be getting lots of scrutiny in the media in the next few years. If you are a first-year teacher without a master's degree, you earn a certain amount. Salaries and raises are not based on merit, nor do they vary based on the subject you teach. It seems to me, though, that inter-state comparisons are of little value. More relevant are inter-industry comparisons.
Sharp people can make that kind of money much more quickly in other professions.
There are lots of other considerations. For instance, most teachers work a summer job, which boosts their annual earnings. And administrative salaries are rising quickly, given the dearth of qualified applicants in that sector. But in general, people don't get into education for the money.