North Carolina now ranks 43rd in the nation for average teacher pay, according to a new report from the National Education Association (NEA). The state dropped five spots from last year, underscoring growing concerns about educator compensation and its impact on workforce stability.
The NEA’s latest data reveals that the average teacher salary in North Carolina stands at $58,292—just below the state’s calculated living wage of $58,411. The NEA report also shows that NC’s average starting salary is just $42,542, coming it at 39th nationwide for entry-level pay.
Low salaries continue to hinder efforts to recruit and retain qualified educators, particularly amid a national teacher shortage and declining morale driven by poor working conditions. NEA’s report highlights that teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation over the past decade, making it harder for educators to afford basic needs.
In an attempt to help the situation, a bipartisan group of legislators in our state is now attempting to boost our numbers with House Bill 192 (Raise Teacher Pay & Dollar Allot).
If passed, the bill would raise teacher starting salaries to $50,000 and provide up to $12,280 in raises, with additional increases for experienced educators and those with master’s degrees.
