Report
ESP Earnings
NEA's ESP Earnings Report offers a breakdown of educational support professional (ESP) pay in K-12 and higher education.
By: NEA Research
Published: April 26, 2022
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Key Findings
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Earning Averages for Full-Time Workers
| | Total | Rank | K-12 | Rank | Higher Ed | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,766 | 37 | $28,418 | 40 | $42,166 | 28 |
| Alaska | $44,142 | 1 | $43,845 | 2 | $46,239 | 14 |
| Arizona | $31,349 | 38 | $28,492 | 39 | $43,369 | 25 |
| Arkansas | $29,870 | 42 | $27,802 | 42 | $37,276 | 46 |
| California | $41,413 | 5 | $39,005 | 7 | $51,216 | 3 |
| Colorado | $34,713 | 23 | $31,674 | 26 | $44,718 | 21 |
| Connecticut | $41,248 | 6 | $39,492 | 6 | $51,715 | 2 |
| Delaware | $44,044 | 2 | $44,738 | 1 | $40,209 | 37 |
| District of Columbia | $41,889 | 4 | $40,794 | 3 | $50,197 | 4 |
| Florida | $32,704 | 31 | $30,775 | 28 | $40,564 | 36 |
Showing 1 to 10 of 52 entries
Earnings Distribution
| | Total ESP | Under $15,000 | $15- 24,999 | $25- 34,999 | $35- 44,999 | $45,000+ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 100% | 13.3% | 31.8% | 20.8% | 13.5% | 20.6% | ||
| Alaska | 100% | 11.8% | 7.0% | 23.4% | 14.8% | 43.1% | ||
| Arizona | 100% | 16.6% | 26.6% | 25.0% | 14.1% | 17.7% | ||
| Arkansas | 100% | 17.1% | 32.0% | 21.4% | 13.2% | 16.3% | ||
| California | 100% | 7.8% | 15.1% | 20.2% | 17.0% | 39.9% | ||
| Colorado | 100% | 11.7% | 23.8% | 20.9% | 16.5% | 27.1% | ||
| Connecticut | 100% | 5.9% | 16.3% | 20.4% | 14.5% | 42.9% | ||
| Delaware | 100% | 5.0% | 8.8% | 14.2% | 29.5% | 42.5% | ||
| District of Columbia | 100% | 9.6% | 12.0% | 22.6% | 13.2% | 42.6% | ||
| Florida | 100% | 11.5% | 29.5% | 23.4% | 15.7% | 20.0% |
Showing 1 to 10 of 52 entries
Trends
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Union ESPs have the power to negotiate for better pay.
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Education support professionals are earning less than they did 10 years ago, when adjusted for inflation.
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OF
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Union ESPs have the power to negotiate for better pay.
1
OF
2
Education support professionals are earning less than they did 10 years ago, when adjusted for inflation.
2
OF
2
Union ESPs have the power to negotiate for better pay.
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