NEA Unveils New Nationwide Data on Educator Pay and School Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the 3-million-member National Education Association released a set of detailed reports unveiling alarming new data about educator pay and other key findings related to what is contributing to the nationwide educator shortage.
The reports make clear that the current educator staffing crisis and trajectory—when coupled with the pandemic, insufficient teacher salaries, and the chronic underfunding of our public schools—is unsustainable. And, unless we reverse course and start treating educators with the respect their profession deserves, it will have a direct impact on students and families across the country.
“For decades, America’s educators have been chronically underappreciated and shamefully underpaid,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “Throughout this persistent and ongoing pandemic, they have demonstrated their commitment to all students, no matter their ZIP code, the language they speak, or the gender with which they identify. After persevering through the hardest school years in recent memory, our educators are exhausted and feeling less and less optimistic about their futures.
“If we want to reverse course and keep qualified teachers in the classroom and caring professionals in schools, then we must increase educator pay across the board and expand access to collective bargaining and union membership for all those working in public education. The reality is that educators with collective bargaining laws in their states make more than their non-collective bargaining peers. We encourage more state and local lawmakers to follow the lead of Mississippi and New Mexico, as well as Jefferson County, Colorado, and Minneapolis. They took strides to address educator shortages by authorizing pay increases for educators,” said Pringle.
The four separate reports released today by the NEA, include:
- Rankings and Estimates, which provides a wide array of school funding statistics and includes the average teacher salary by state and nationally.
- Teacher Salary Benchmark Report, which provides information from nearly 12,000 local school districts on starting teacher salaries and salaries at other points of the teaching career continuum.
- ESP Earnings Report, which offers a breakdown of educational support professional (ESP) pay in K-12 and higher education.
- Higher Education Faculty Salary Analysis, which looks at full-time faculty and graduate assistant salaries at the national, state, and institutional level.
Educator Pay in Your State
-
Alabama
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$41,163State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#24in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$54,271State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#35in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
69¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$48,111Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$31,766Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#37in the nationPer Student Spending
$10,705Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#43in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$84,446Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#34in the nation -
Alaska
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$49,907State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#6in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$73,061State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#10in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
85¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$63,956Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$44,142Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#1in the nationPer Student Spending
$18,708Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#9in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$84,111Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#35in the nation -
Arizona
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$40,554State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#27in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$52,157State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#44in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
68¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$52,528Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$31,349Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#38in the nationPer Student Spending
$9,920Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#48in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$94,270Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#21in the nation -
Arkansas
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$35,803State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#48in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$51,668State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#46in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
80¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$44,463Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$29,870Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#42in the nationPer Student Spending
$11,081Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#40in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$76,068Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#46in the nation -
California
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$49,933State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#5in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$85,856State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#3in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
82¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$54,070Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$41,413Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#5in the nationPer Student Spending
$14,801Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#19in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$119,726Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#1in the nation -
Colorado
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$35,724State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#49in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$58,183State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#26in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
64¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$53,043Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$34,713Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#23in the nationPer Student Spending
$12,996Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#27in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$89,017Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#27in the nation -
Connecticut
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$47,477State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#10in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$79,742State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#5in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
83¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$63,303Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$41,248Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#6in the nationPer Student Spending
$22,153Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#5in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$110,533Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#4in the nation -
Delaware
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$43,448State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#17in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$65,141State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#16in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
89¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$59,978Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$44,044Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#2in the nationPer Student Spending
$16,997Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#16in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$115,443Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#3in the nation -
Florida
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$44,040State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#16in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$51,009State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#48in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
80¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$49,625Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$32,704Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#31in the nationPer Student Spending
$10,703Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#44in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$98,459Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#11in the nation -
Georgia
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$38,692State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#35in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$60,553State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#21in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
73¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$47,638Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$31,315Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#39in the nationPer Student Spending
$12,597Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#31in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$83,796Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#36in the nation -
Hawaii
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$50,123State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#4in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$70,922State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#12in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
85¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$82,158Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$40,248Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#10in the nationPer Student Spending
$17,303Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#13in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$107,400Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#5in the nation -
Idaho
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$39,842State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#29in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$51,817State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#45in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
75¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$49,343Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$29,085Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#45in the nationPer Student Spending
$8,376Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#51in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$76,047Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#47in the nation -
Illinois
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$41,228State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#23in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$70,705State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#13in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
77¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$52,809Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$36,773Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#15in the nationPer Student Spending
$17,500Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#12in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$95,670Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#17in the nation -
Indiana
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$38,158State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#38in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$53,072State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#41in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
79¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$50,562Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$32,232Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#33in the nationPer Student Spending
$11,265Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#37in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$92,082Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#24in the nation -
Iowa
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$38,515State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#36in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$58,831State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#24in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
84¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$51,875Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$34,530Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#25in the nationPer Student Spending
$12,295Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#34in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$98,813Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#10in the nation -
Kansas
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$39,100State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#32in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$53,619State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#37in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
77¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$52,793Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$29,470Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#44in the nationPer Student Spending
$12,828Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#29in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$82,301Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#39in the nation -
Kentucky
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$37,373State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#44in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$54,139State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#36in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
75¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$49,324Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$28,783Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#48in the nationPer Student Spending
$12,103Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#35in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$76,947Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#45in the nation -
Louisiana
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$42,185State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#19in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$52,472State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#43in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
72¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$49,467Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$29,804Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#43in the nationPer Student Spending
$12,399Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#33in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$71,863Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#50in the nation -
Maine
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$37,580State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#43in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$57,167State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#30in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
76¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$54,307Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$33,274Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#27in the nationPer Student Spending
$17,293Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#14in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$83,398Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#37in the nation -
Maryland
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$48,510State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#7in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$74,006State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#9in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
80¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$50,383Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$40,523Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#8in the nationPer Student Spending
$15,744Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#17in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$97,003Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#12in the nation -
Massachusetts
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$48,372State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#8in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$86,755State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#2in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
80¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$61,322Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$39,495Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#11in the nationPer Student Spending
$21,584Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#6in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$101,745Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#7in the nation -
Michigan
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$37,820State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#41in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$64,262State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#17in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
82¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$47,235Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$34,558Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#24in the nationPer Student Spending
$11,597Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#36in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$102,945Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#6in the nation -
Minnesota
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$41,234State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#22in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$66,561State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#15in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
74¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$52,283Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$35,928Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#18in the nationPer Student Spending
$14,122Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#21in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$95,980Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#16in the nation -
Mississippi
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$36,653State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#46in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$46,862State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#51in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
85¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$47,142Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$28,477Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#49in the nationPer Student Spending
$9,920Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#48in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$71,333Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Researc#51in the nation -
Missouri
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$33,234State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#50in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$51,557State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#47in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
72¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$46,944Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteeAverage ESP Earnings
$32,033Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#35in the nationPer Student Spending
$10,481Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#46in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$78,304Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#44in the nation -
Montana
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$32,495State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#51in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$53,133State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#40in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
83¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$53,181Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$31,968Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#36in the nationPer Student Spending
$12,597Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#31in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$79,302Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#41in the nation -
Nebraska
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$36,491State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#47in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$56,463State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#31in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
79¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$52,132Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$32,614Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#32in the nationPer Student Spending
$13,133Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#26in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$87,241Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#32in the nation -
Nevada
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$41,277State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#21in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$58,167State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#27in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
80¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$56,791Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$37,936Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#12in the nationPer Student Spending
$10,200Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#47in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$94,981Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#18in the nation -
New Hampshire
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$39,737State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#30in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$61,849State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#20in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
80¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$61,451Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$32,073Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#34in the nationPer Student Spending
$19,062Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#7in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$96,076Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#15in the nation -
New Jersey
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$54,053State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#2in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$77,677State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#7in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
96¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$64,342Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$42,037Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#3in the nationPer Student Spending
$22,760Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#4in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$118,280Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#2in the nation -
New Mexico
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$41,737State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#20in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$54,923State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#32in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
73¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$46,755Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$29,076Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#46in the nationPer Student Spending
$12,964Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#28in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$78,934Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#42in the nation -
New York
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$47,618State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#9in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$90,222State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#1in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
87¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$54,870Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$40,954Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#7in the nationPer Student Spending
$28,704Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#1in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$96,456Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#13in the nation -
North Carolina
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$37,127State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#45in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$53,458State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#38in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
76¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$48,346Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$32,847Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#30in the nationPer Student Spending
$11,052Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#41in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$87,516Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#31in the nation -
North Dakota
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$40,907State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#25in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$54,837State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#33in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
82¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$50,535Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$35,717Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#20in the nationPer Student Spending
$15,336Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#18in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$79,441Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#40in the nation -
Ohio
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$38,231State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#37in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$63,082State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#18in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
86¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$47,760Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$36,047Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#17in the nationPer Student Spending
$13,695Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#24in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$94,750Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#19in the nation -
Oklahoma
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$38,074State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#39in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$54,762State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#34in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
67¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$47,322Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$28,246Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#51in the nationPer Student Spending
$10,553Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#45in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$78,352Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#43in the nation -
Oregon
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$39,338State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#31in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$68,565State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#14in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
71¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$61,045Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$35,057Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#22in the nationPer Student Spending
$14,400Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#20in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$92,540Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#22in the nation -
Pennsylvania
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$46,991State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#11in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$71,479State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#11in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
85¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$47,690Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$35,764Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#19in the nationPer Student Spending
$18,847Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#8in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$99,624Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#9in the nation -
Rhode Island
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$44,592State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#13in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$75,966State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#8in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
97¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$61,322Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$40,275Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#9in the nationPer Student Spending
$18,651Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#10in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$94,558Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#20in the nation -
South Carolina
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$37,704State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#42in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$53,188State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#39in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
92¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$45,477Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$30,933Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#41in the nationPer Student Spending
$12,677Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#30in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$84,467Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#33in the nation -
South Dakota
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$40,128State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#28in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$49,547State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#50in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
82¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$51,278Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$28,465Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#50in the nationPer Student Spending
$11,102Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#39in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$73,564Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#49in the nation -
Tennessee
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$39,024State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#33in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$52,871State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#42in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
76¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$46,745Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$28,866Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#47in the nationPer Student Spending
$11,128Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#38in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$82,618Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#38in the nation -
Texas
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$44,527State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#14in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$57,641State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#28in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
79¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$43,776Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$31,189Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#40in the nationPer Student Spending
$10,741Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#42in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$92,431Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#23in the nation -
Utah
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$44,349State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#15in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$57,226State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#29in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
78¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$49,686Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$36,170Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#16in the nationPer Student Spending
$8,968Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#50in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$87,655Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#30in the nation -
Vermont
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$40,810State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#26in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$62,483State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#19in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
86¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$84,954Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$32,984Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#29in the nationPer Student Spending
$23,299Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#2in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$89,279Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#26in the nation -
Virginia
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$42,251State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#18in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$58,506State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#25in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
67¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$49,017Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$35,238Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#21in the nationPer Student Spending
$14,003Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#22in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$96,331Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#14in the nation -
Washington
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$51,040State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#3in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$79,388State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#6in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
71¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$52,649Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$37,723Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#13in the nationPer Student Spending
$17,193Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#15in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$100,511Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#8in the nation -
Washington, D.C.
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$56,313State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#1in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$80,659State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#4in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
81¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$78,904Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$41,889Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#4in the nationPer Student Spending
$23,181Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#3in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$88,120Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#28in the nation -
West Virginia
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$37,987State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#40in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$50,261State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#49in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
81¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$50,412Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$33,044Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#28in the nationPer Student Spending
$13,671Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#25in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$75,582Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#48in the nation -
Wisconsin
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$38,961State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#34in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$59,992State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#23in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
78¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$53,239Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$37,192Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#14in the nationPer Student Spending
$13,833Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#23in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$87,801Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#29in the nation -
Wyoming
Average Teacher Starting Salary
$46,826State Teacher Salary Benchmark Data, FY 2020-21, NEA CBMA, April 2022#12in the nationAverage Teacher Salary
$60,234State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#22in the nationTeacher Pay Gap
96¢Compared to other college-educated professionals with similar experience. Economic Policy Institute, August 2022Minimum Living Wage
$57,705Income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area, 2020 dollars, Economic Policy InstituteAverage ESP Earnings
$33,686Average ESP Earnings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#26in the nationPer Student Spending
$18,385Expenditure per student in fall enrollment. State Rankings, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#11in the nationAverage Higher Ed Faculty Salary
$90,042Average Faculty Salary for Four-Year Public Institutions, FY 2020-21, NEA Research#25in the nation
The Rankings and Estimates Report, which has been produced by the NEA for more than 70 years, estimates that the average national classroom teacher salary is $66,397 for the 2021-2022 school year—a figure that fails to keep up with inflation. Despite continuing to nurture and educate students amid unprecedented pandemic conditions, teachers are shockingly bringing home $2,179 less per year, on average, than they did a decade ago (when adjusted for inflation).
When it comes to the average starting salary for teachers, the Teacher Salary Benchmark Report estimates that for the 2020-2021 school year, first year teachers earned on average just $41,770. When adjusted for inflation, this represents a 4% decrease from the previous year. And furthermore, the Economic Policy Institute’s (EPI) most recent analysis of these pay statistics shows that teachers on average make 19.2% less annually when compared to similarly educated workers.
“I work 70 hours a week, teaching and preparing lessons, while also trying to find time for my own two little girls. It’s either teacher guilt or mom guilt! I usually grade papers at the kitchen table, and I fear that I’m neglecting my own kids who need my attention,” said Lakeisha Patterson, who teaches reading, writing and social studies in Deer Lake, Texas. “That’s a struggle that so many educators are going through right now. We all go above and beyond, but there’s a lack of empathy, a lack of pay, and a lack of support. I don’t think people realize the mass exodus from the teaching profession that’s on the way.”
These troubling trends hold even more true for educational support professionals (ESPs), including teachers' aides, custodians, cafeteria workers, and school bus drivers. For the first time this year, NEA has released the ESP Earnings Report, which reveals that these crucial public school employees are earning an average of at least $10,000 below a basic living wage in all but one state across the country. In fact, more than a third of all ESPs working full time earn less than $25,000 per year.
These news findings come just months after a NEA survey revealed that 55% of educators are ready to leave the profession earlier than planned and as new data shows teacher job satisfaction is at an all-time low. These shocking numbers make clear that after persevering through the hardest school year in recent memory and confronting an unprecedented staffing crisis across nearly every job category, chronically underfunded public schools, and politicians trying to censor what they teach or punishing them for doing their jobs, educators are growing more disillusioned and exhausted every day.
“I was drawn to special education because my brother has significant needs and growing up, I wanted to be a positive change for kids like him," said Audra DeRidder, a special education resource teacher from Iron Mountain, Michigan. “Five years after graduating from Iron Mountain Public Schools, I returned to my district as an elementary special education teacher. The first year, I made $30K. It’s not sustainable. I have had friends walk away from teaching because they cannot live on this salary. The only reason I can stay in teaching is that I’m married, and we have a two-income household. But with a toddler and student loans piling up, I also don’t know how much longer I can continue following my passion. We are losing really good teachers because they just can’t afford to stay in this profession.”
The data released today paints a dire picture and confirms a key variable that is contributing to this five-alarm crisis: If our nation is serious about tackling the educator shortage, low morale, and exhaustion, the solution must include improving educator pay at all career stages and for the long term.
The good news, however, is that collective bargaining helps educators get higher wages across the board. NEA data shows that for the 2020-21 school year, starting salaries for teachers rose by an average of 1.6 percent in states with a collective bargaining law. And when it comes to ESPs, workers in states with collective bargaining statutes earn almost $6,000 more a year, on average, than those in states where collective bargaining is prohibited.
Highlights from this year’s reports, include:
Teacher Salaries:
- For 2020-2021, the average salary for public school teachers was $65,293, an increase of 1.8% over 2019-2020.
- Adjusting for inflation, the average teacher salary declined by 3.9% over the past decade.
- The average teacher salary for 2021‒2022 is projected to increase by 1.7% over 2020‒2021, from $65,293 to $66,397.
- The average starting teacher salary for 2020-2021 was $41,770, an increase of 1.4% over 2019-2020.
- When adjusted for inflation, this represents a 4% decrease from 2019-2020, undoing all the gains made over the previous two years.
ESP Earnings:
- For 2020-21, K-12 ESPs working full time (at least 30 hours per week) earned an average of $32,837. During the same school year, higher education ESP working full time earned an average of $44,225.
- 13.7% of K-12 ESPs working full time earned less than $15,000, and 27.8% earned between $15,000 and $24,999. Within higher education, 17.4 percent earn less than $25,000, and 7.5 percent earn less than $15,000.
- The average salary for ESP has risen from $30,819 in 2011-12 to $35,124 in 2020-21. When adjusted for inflation, the earnings for ESP in 2012 dollars has fallen from $30,819 to $30,279.
Higher Education Salaries:
- The average salary for full-time faculty on 9/10-month contracts was $91,916 in 2020-2021, a 1.3% increase over 2019-2020. The average salary was slightly higher for faculty at public, four-year institutions ($94,444) and much lower for those at public, two-year institutions ($72,421).
- Adjusting for inflation, faculty lost $1,239 in purchasing power from the prior year.
In 2020-21, women earned 90 cents to every dollar earned by men in public institutions and 87 cents in private institutions.
In 2020-2021, the faculty of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) earned $24,000 less, on average, than their colleagues at other institutions, or 74 cents to the dollar.
Students and Teachers:
- In fall 2020, U.S. public schools enrolled 48,847,268 students, a decrease of 2.7 percent from fall 2019. From 2020-2021 to 2021-2022, enrollment is expected to decline by an estimated 0.1%.
- U.S. public schools employed 3,192,309 teachers in 2020‒2021. The number of teachers is expected to increase slightly by 0.1 percent from 2020-2021 to 2021-22.
Expenditures Per Student:
- The national average per-student expenditure in 2020‒2021 based on fall enrollment was $14,360, a gain of 5.0 percent from 2019‒2020.
- Per-student expenditure is projected to increase by 4.8 percent to $15,047 in 2021‒2022.
All data reports available at NEA.org/educatorpay. This site features an interactive map that shows where states rank on educator pay and student funding.
The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.
References
Media Contact
- Miguel A. Gonzalez
- [email protected]
- Phone 202-491-9532