Teacher Salaries Remain Stagnant but Health Insurance Costs Soar
AFT Releases Annual State-by-State Teacher Salary Survey

— Go to individual state releases

Washington, D.C. – Teachers’ salaries have stayed relatively stagnant while teachers’ health care costs have jumped to all-time rates, making it difficult to attract and keep good teachers at a time when they are increasingly needed, according to the American Federation of Teachers’ annual state-by-state teachers salary released Thursday.

The 2002-03 average teacher salary was $45,771, up 3.3 percent from the previous year, according to the report. The 2002-03 average beginning teacher salary was $29,564, up 3.2 percent from the year before. The AFT estimates that the average beginning salary for the most recent school year, 2003-04, was $30,496. But while teacher salaries rose an average 3.3 percent, health insurance benefits spiked an average 13 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"Exorbitant health insurance costs are taking an intolerable bite out of already inadequate teacher salaries. Even as teachers are being asked to do more, compensation packages are nothing short of insulting and fail to take account of growing health care and other out-of-pocket costs to teachers," said AFT Secretary-Treasurer Edward J. McElroy.

Furthermore, the AFT noted, superintendents’ average salaries are as much as four times higher than teachers’ average pay, according to the Educational Research Service.

"States and school districts are crying poverty when it comes to teachers’ pay, yet somehow find money for extravagant administrator salaries. Strong leadership without a quality teaching force won't improve education," McElroy said.

Average teacher salaries. California had the nation's highest average salary in 2002-03, at $55,693. States joining California in the top tier were Michigan, at $54,020; Connecticut, at $53,962; New Jersey, at $53,872; and the District of Columbia, at $53,194.

South Dakota had the lowest average salary in 2002-03, at $32,414. The other states in the bottom tier were Montana, at $35,754; Mississippi, at $35,135; North Dakota, at $33,869; and Oklahoma, at $33,277. Also in the lowest tier were the Virgin Islands, at $34,764; Guam at $34,738; and Puerto Rico, at $22,164.

Average beginning teacher salaries. Alaska had the highest average beginning salary in 2002-03, at $37,401. States joining Alaska in the top tier were New Jersey, at $35,673; District of Columbia, at $35,260; New York, at $35,259; and California, at $34,805.

Montana had the lowest average beginning salary in 2002-03, at $23,052. The other states in the bottom tier were Maine, at $24,631; South Dakota, at $24,311; North Dakota, at $23,591; and Arizona, at $23,548.

Adobe PDF versions of selected tables can be downloaded here:

Table 1, Average Teacher Salary in 2002-03, State Rankings
Table 2, Actual Average Beginning Teacher Salaries, 2002-03, Estimated 2004

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