However, these data come with an important caveat: They are not adjusted for cost-of-living differences, which can vary widely from ZIP code to ZIP code and could reasonably explain at least some of the wage gap.
- The effect of inflation on teacher pay
NEA researchers used state education department projections — or, when necessary, came up with their own projections — to calculate average teacher salaries for 2026, then compared those estimates to salaries from 2017. At first glance, pay appears to have risen over the decade (in current dollars). But after adjusting for inflation, the researchers estimate that teachers’ real earnings actually are refused by nearly 5%.
“Dedicated educators show up every day in classrooms across this country to inspire, support and uplift their students, but too many struggle to stay in the profession they love,” NEA President Becky Pringle said in a news release. “They deserve pay that reflects their experience, the strong support they need to succeed, and respect that honors the essential role they play in shaping this nation’s future.”
Of the 11 states that have seen an inflation-adjusted increase in teacher pay since 2017, one stands out, eclipsing the rest. In Washington, teacher salaries increased by 36%. why Because the supreme court of the state alert the stateincluding imposing a fine of $100,000 a day that it must do more to fund and support its public schools.
- $48,112 — The average salary for new teachers
In 2024-25, the national average salary for new teachers jumped 3.4 percent, according to the NEA report, but “after adjusting for inflation, real salary growth was less than 1 percent.”
States with the highest average starting salaries: District of Columbia ($64,640), Washington ($60,658), California ($59,424), New Jersey ($58,727) and Utah ($57,849).
States with the lowest starting salaries: Montana ($36,682), Nebraska ($39,561), Missouri ($40,682), Oklahoma ($41,294) and Kentucky ($41,901).
Although again, these figures are not adjusted for regional differences in the cost of living.
- $36,360 — Average salary for K-12 public school support staff
These are the people who keep the nation’s public schools running without being directly involved in instruction – custodians, cafeteria workers, support teachers, bus drivers and security guards.
That median salary of $36,360 for support staff in 2024-25 is an increase of $1,400 over the previous year, but again, the long-term perspective, adjusted for inflation, tells a different story. Compared to 2016 wages, researchers estimate that public school support staff saw a $2,344 drop in pay.
- The effect of collective bargaining
According to the new report, “states with collective bargaining laws have higher average starting and top wages than states without them.” How much higher? Starting salaries are $366 higher on average, while top salaries are $15,105 higher.
The data also suggest an increase in wages for school support staff, who earn 13 percent more in states that allow collective bargaining. According to the NEA, the majority of school districts—more than 80 percent—are located in states with some type of collective bargaining law, and only seven states expressly prohibit bargaining for teachers.
Although there is a clear connection, or relationship, between wages and collective bargaining, there is not enough detailed data to draw a direct causal link between the two.
One exception is worth noting: While South Carolina has no collective bargaining law, state lawmakers agreed to an 11 percent pay increase for beginning teachers last year.
- Student enrollment is slowly declining
Much has been made in recent years about a national “enrollment failure” stemming from fewer Americans choosing to have children during the Great Recession. The new reports offer further evidence for the scale.
At the start of the 2024-25 school year, public schools enrolled nearly 49 million students. This is down 0.3% from the previous decline. But, looked at through a longer lens, enrollment has declined by roughly 3.6% since 2016.
What’s more, as part of the NEA’s new release, researchers estimate that enrollment dropped another 1 percent between last year and the current school year alone.
- Schools enrolled an average of 15.1 students per teacher.
This student-to-teacher ratio held steady between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, although state averages revealed considerable variation. Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, for example, averaged about 22 students per teacher, while Vermont, New York, and the District of Columbia averaged between 10 and 11 students per teacher.
- How school funding really works
President Donald Trump continues his efforts to dismantled the US Department of Education in the name of “bringing education back to the states,” but this new tranche of data shows just how small the federal footprint already is. Federal dollars — largely focused on helping schools mitigate the effects of student poverty and paying for special education services — accounted for 7.8 percent of total school revenue last school year.
Where do schools actually get their money?
The data shows that in 2025, 47 percent of public school funding will come from state governments and roughly 45 percent from local governments, including local property taxes. NEA researchers also estimate that the federal share of school funding fell to 7.3 percent this year.
This federal share has declined in part due to the end of federal COVID-19 relief for public schools. Some countries spent those dollars faster than others.
Of the states where federal support still accounts for 10% or more of school funding, most are controlled by Republicans: Kentucky (17.5%), Alaska (16.5), New Mexico (14.1), Louisiana (14.1), Arkansas (13), South Dakota (12.4), West Virginia (11.9), Mississippi (11.8), Montana (11.4), South Carolina (10.8), Tennessee (10.6), Alabama (10.3), Arizona (10.3) and Florida (10.2).
