CA Public School Teacher Pay Is Nation's Highest, Report Shows
CALIFORNIA — California's teachers and college faculty rank first in the nation in average pay, and starting salaries are among the highest in the United States, according to a new report from the National Education Association.But even with recent pay increases, teacher salaries in the Golden State and elsewhere around the country haven’t quite kept pace with inflation over the past decade, researchers found.When adjusted for inflation, the nation’s K-12 public school teachers made 5 percent less than they did 10 years ago, according to the report. The report is based on 2022-23 school year data and projected 2023–24 data.California's average starting teacher salary of $55,283 in 2022-23 ranked fourth in the country, while the average teacher salary of $95,160 ranked first, the report showed. Faculty members working in higher education earned $129,096 on average, also leading the nation.According to the research, the average "minimum living wage" is $68,182 in California, for a pay gap of 81 cents in 2022-23. Calculations from Forbes rank the state's cost of living as the third-highest in the country. Educational support personnel at California K-12 schools earned an average of $39,877 during the same period, ranking sixth.Per-pupil spending in the Golden State for the 2022-23 school year was $17,869, which ranked No. 17 in the nation.Noting that low pay limits the ability of schools to attract and retain high-quality teachers, the NEA warned a widespread educator shortage is looming amid sagging morale across the profession.Nationwide, the recent teacher pay hikes represent the largest year-over-year increase in more than a decade. But educators overall are inadequately paid and greater investments in public education are needed to maintain the momentum, the national teacher’s union said.Overall, the report showed:The national average public school teacher salary in 2022-23 increased 4.1 percent from the previous year to $69,544 and is projected to grow a further 3.1 percent in 2023-24.The national average beginning teacher salary was $44,530. At 3.9 percent, the increase in the average starting salary was the largest in the 14 years that NEA has been tracking teacher salary benchmarks. However, when adjusted for inflation, the starting teacher salaries are now $4,273 below the 2008-09 levels.A staggering 77 percent of U.S. school districts still pay a starting salary below $50,000 (28.6 percent start teachers at less than $40,000), while teacher salaries top out over $100,000 in only 16.6 percent of districts.The starting salary of teachers in states with a bargaining law is $1,653 more than in states without a bargaining law.Top pay is $12,998 higher in states where collective bargaining laws covering educational support personnel, with average earnings of $38,167, compared to states where bargaining is prohibited, where these people earn an average of $32,308.ALSO SEE:This CA City Is America's Happiest City In 2024: WalletHub StudyThis Is The Most Charming Small Town In California, Report SaysTrader Joe's 2024 Favorites ListThe article CA Public School Teacher Pay Is Nation's Highest, Report Shows appeared first on Across California, CA Patch.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings