How Much Should Teachers Get Paid ?

Educators don’t enter the profession expecting to get rich. They do it because they love teaching and because they have an unwavering belief in their students. But, they should also be able to support themselves. The sad truth is that many educators aren’t earning enough to make ends meet. Today, we’re releasing our annual data on educator pay. Click here to find out how your state ranks in educator pay and per pupil spending.

Educator Pay in Your State >

Each year, NEA publishes data on educator salaries. We collect statistics from state departments of education and 11,675 school districts, which account for 94 percent of all full-time educators. The data show in black and white (or, in this case, red and white) the dollar value each state places on its educators. To make matters worse, the pay gap between educators and other professionals is vast and growing, forcing many out of the profession and creating a teacher shortage crisis that threatens our students and communities. See how much educators make on average in your state and join the movement fighting for better resources for public school educators and students. How much we pay educators is just one indicator of the value our society places on education. As part of the Red For Ed movement, educators across the country are joining hands with parents and community members to fight for the resources public school students need to succeed—like a nurse, counselor, and librarian in every school; a living wage for education support professionals; and more class time for learning. Equipped with data like average educator pay and the teacher pay gap, we are able to better make the case that we can do better. Afterall, our children are worth it. Sincerely, Lily Eskelsen García President National Education Association