Bad Trends in Teacher Salary Exacerbated by Inflation

Comparing Teacher Salaries & Costs of Living by State

From 2010 to 2020, the change in average teacher salary was-3.1%. Contrast this to the average wage of all workers, which has increased by 15% from 2010-2020.

Pre-pandemic trends of stagnating teacher pay mean that for teachers, a pay increase may not necessarily be enough to get ahead. A lot depends on where you live.

Adjusting for inflation (by using constant dollars) , 33 States saw teacher salary decreases from 2009/10 to 2020/21. 17 States saw an increase in this time period, with Washington State being a major outlier with a 23% increase.

Of the top 10 States with the largest increases in teacher salary, only 2 of them actually rank in the top 10 for teacher salary when adjusted for costs of living in their state (Washington & Rhode Island).