When you think about compensating individuals for their labor, it feels intuitive to pay higher wages for difficult and important jobs. And when you think about those who have the responsibility of teaching America’s children, you might consider their job to fall under those categories.
But the truth is, teachers often earn wages that are considered barely livable, especially those who are new to the profession. This is reflected by the well-documented teacher shortage impacting both North and South Carolina. Naturally, the teacher-pay debate has gained significant traction in recent years, as policymakers on all fronts work to find solutions.
North and South Carolina ranked in the bottom half of states for average teacher salaries during the 2022-23 school year, placing 38th and 35th, respectively, according to the National Education Association. However, it’s worth noting that both states have a cost of living that is slightly lower than the national average.
At the same time, a 2023 survey by the John Locke Foundation found that North Carolina school board members consider teacher shortages to be a significant challenge facing education. Accordingly, teacher-pay reform could attract well-prepared young professionals and help retain quality educators.
A proposal recently filed in the North Carolina House (H.B. 192) aims to increase wages and reinstate education-based salaries for teachers. It has drawn attention due to its ambitious goals, which come with a significant cost.
The bill requires nearly $1.6 billion from the General Fund to be allocated to the Department of Public Instruction. Specifically, it would: 1) increase teacher salaries by about 21.9% from the previous year for all experience levels, and 2) reinstate education-based salary increases, meaning teachers with advanced degrees would receive higher pay for the first time since 2013.
Most Americans received an average pay increase of about four percent this year. While the pay gap in the teaching profession is an important issue that deserves attention, spending nearly $1.6 billion in the current year may not be a feasible solution, especially while also paying for an Opportunity Scholarship expansion.
Meanwhile, House budget writers in South Carolina have proposed raising the minimum teacher salary from $47,000 to $48,500. Governor Henry McMaster’s executive budget calls for a baseline salary of $50,000 by 2026.