Where are teacher salaries heading in the wrong direction? Almost everywhere

The average teacher salary has increased in only four states since 2021, according to data collected by Scholaroo, a college scholarship search platform.

Alongside staff shortages and political turmoil, the average teacher salary has declined in all but four states since 2021, according to data collected by Scholaroo, a college scholarship search platform. In fact, the average teacher salary has increased in only four states since 2021, the company said.

But first, here are the top 20 states with the highest average teacher salaries:

  1. New York
  2. California
  3. Connecticut
  4. Massachusetts
  5. New Jersey
  6. Rhode Island
  7. Alaska
  8. Pennsylvania
  9. Illinois
  10. Minnesota
  11. Delaware
  12. Michigan
  13. Ohio
  14. Oregon
  15. Washington
  16. Vermont
  17. Virginia
  18. New Hampshire
  19. Hawaii
  20. Wyoming

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Big teacher salary slides

Average teacher salary has grown only grown on the coasts and in just four states: Hawaii, California, New York and New Jersey. Here is the list of how teacher pay has changed in all 50 states, starting with the largest decreases:

Federal intervention ahead?

The Pay Teachers Act, introduced last week by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, would set the minimum teacher salary at $60,000 and lay the groundwork for regular pay increases that are meant to keep educators’ compensation competitive. Starting pay for teachers in nearly 40% of school districts is less than $40,000 a year, Sanders’ office said.

The average weekly wage of a public school teacher has been stagnant for the past 50 years, increasing by only $29 over the last three decades (after adjusting for inflation), the senator’s office noted.

  1. Nebraska: -33.45%
  2. Oklahoma: -31.67%
  3. Utah: -25.42%
  4. New Mexico: -25.17%
  5. Virginia: -21.47%
  6. Kansas: -21.45%
  7. South Carolina: -20.55%
  8. North Carolina: -20.35%
  9. North Dakota: -20.05%
  10. Louisiana: -19.69%
  11. West Virginia: -19.46%
  12. Ohio: -19.30%
  13. Florida: -19.22%
  14. Alabama: -19.10%
  15. Arkansas: -18.37%
  16. Georgia: -18.28%
  17. Wisconsin: -17.81%
  18. Tennessee: -17.77%
  19. Iowa: -17.58%
  20. Indiana: -17.09%
  21. Kentucky: -16.80%
  22. Washington: -16.74%
  23. Oregon: -16.70%
  24. Idaho: -16.67%
  25. Arizona: -16.57%
  26. Michigan: -16.41%
  27. Mississippi: -16.13%
  28. Missouri: -15.21%
  29. Montana: -13.91%
  30. Wyoming: -13.87%
  31. Texas: -11.89%
  32. South Dakota: -10.50%
  33. Illinois: -10.17%
  34. Delaware: -10.14%
  35. Nevada: -8.66%
  36. Pennsylvania: -8.51%
  37. Vermont: -7.74%
  38. Maine: -7.50%
  39. Colorado: -7.01%
  40. Massachusetts: -4.99%
  41. Minnesota: -4.43%
  42. Alaska: -3.78%
  43. Rhode Island: -3.56%
  44. New Hampshire: -1.76%
  45. Connecticut: -1.45%
  46. Hawaii: +6%
  47. California: +7%
  48. New York: +10%
  49. New Jersey: +12%

Scholaroo did not gather data for Maryland.

Matt Zalaznick
Matt Zalaznick
Matt Zalaznick is a life-long journalist. Prior to writing for District Administration he worked in daily news all over the country, from the NYC suburbs to the Rocky Mountains, Silicon Valley and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He's also in a band.

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