North Carolina drops in annual teacher salary rankings, report says

Note: The accompanying video looks into why teachers are resigning nationwide

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina has dropped in annual rankings for teacher salary, according to a new report from the National Education Association.

The annual report looks at state educator pay and public education spending.

The ranking now lists North Carolina as 38th in the nation for teacher pay, which is two spots lower than last year’s report.

It said North Carolina’s average teacher salary is $56,559, which is almost $13,000 below the national average.

According to the report, teacher salaries nationwide rose an average of 4.1% over the year while North Carolina’s average increased 3.1%.

“With a growing teacher shortage and falling enrollment in education prep courses, it is even more alarming that North Carolina’s starting teacher salaries ($40,136) rank 42nd in the nation and almost $15,000 below the minimum living wage,” said the North Carolina Association of Educators, citing the report.

The report also ranked North Carolina as 38th in the nation for student spending with about $13,173 per student. However, this is one spot higher than last year.

Rallying for more pay

These rankings come as teachers across the state rally for more pay.

Just this week, Wake County educators rallied for better pay outside several schools.

Last week, The Durham County Public School Board passed a $26 million budget including salary increases for employees, after months of similar rallies .

“North Carolinians believe that our students should have the opportunity to learn, to grow and to thrive. Our public schools give the vast majority of those students that opportunity, but we could be doing so much more,” said Tamika Walker Kelly, President of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE).

“The latest data shows North Carolina again trailing our neighboring states like Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia on critical measures like per student spending and average teacher pay,” she explained. “Until we raise teacher pay to at least the national average and fully-fund our public schools, North Carolina is giving our youngest generation less than they deserve.”

Click here to read the full report from the National Education Association.

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