Here's How Much Teachers In WI Make, New Data Shows

WISCONSIN — Even with recent pay increases, teacher salaries in Wisconsin and elsewhere around the country haven’t kept pace with inflation over the past decade, according to a new report from the National Education Association.

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.

Wisconsin’s average starting teacher salary of $41,151 in 2022-23 ranked no. 38th in the country, while the average teacher salary of $62,524 ranked no 25th, the report showed.

The average minimum living wage is $60,892 in Wisconsin, for a pay gap of 77 cents in 2022-23.

Educational support personnel in Wisconsin earned an average of $35,059 during the same period, ranking no. 15.

Per-pupil spending in Wisconsin for the 2022-23 school year was $15,654, which ranked No. 25 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 cover 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.