Teacher salaries are the highest in over a decade. Why it’s still not enough
May 1, 2024, 9:00 PM | Updated: May 3, 2024, 10:52 am
Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City is pictured on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. A new study shows teacher salaries across the country have jumped higher than they have in more than a dozen years. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — A new study shows teacher salaries across the country have jumped higher than ever in more than a dozen years. Once inflation is factored in though, numbers take a nosedive.
The national average for teacher salaries
The study released by the National Education Association shows that the national average for teacher salaries is $69,544. Utah’s average is $63,481, which ranks the state number 23 overall, but it also ranks number 10 in the nation for average starting salary at $49,555.
Nationwide there was a 3.9% increase in salaries which is the largest in 14 years. But the study shows that with inflation, it drops $4,273 below 2008-2009 salary levels. The study also reports that overall teachers are making 5% less than 10 years ago.
“It’s the hardest job in the world, but there is no other job that is more satisfying,” said sixth grade teacher John Arthur. “I love being a teacher.”
He has been teaching at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake for 11 years. But Arthur said the pay has to change if the state wants to keep teachers.
“If you are going to get more people to enter the teaching profession you have to have a higher starting salary otherwise you can’t attract talent,” he said.
