DATA: Arizona teacher pay rising, but still close to the bottom

A report from the Nationwide Schooling Affiliation estimates that Arizona now ranks 44 out of fifty states for common trainer pay, rising by two within the ranks for the reason that earlier yr.

In accordance with their knowledge, the state trainer salaries averaged $52,157 within the 2020-21 college yr, an increase of $1,375. When in comparison with different states, the two.7% wage enhance in Arizona was the eleventh largest.

Regardless of the expansion, NEA knowledge exhibits that Arizona lecturers are nonetheless paid nicely under different school graduates within the state. Citing a reporting from the Financial Coverage Institute, Arizona public lecturers make about $0.68 for each greenback earned by different staff with comparable levels.

That is the second lowest of any state, simply forward of Virginia, which is closely skewed because of the proximity of the U.S. Capitol and a few of the wealthiest areas within the nation.

Is low trainer pay in Arizona as a consequence of Arizona’s decrease value of dwelling?

The reply is not any, since Arizona not has a low value of dwelling. A report from insure.com pegs the state’s value of dwelling at 99.5% of the nationwide index.

State leaders are sometimes roundly criticized for failing to maintain up with the price of training. Governor Ducey’s govt price range plan launched in January does present proposed will increase. The plan proposes will increase in per pupil funding to over $14,000 for the following price range yr, which might put Arizona extra in step with the nationwide common.

That is only a plan, nonetheless, right now the state continues to be ready on price range payments from the republican managed state home and senate. As soon as they’re launched, the negotiations over training funding will start.

On the nationwide degree, the NEA report exhibits public college trainer salaries averaged $65,293 for the 2020-21 college yr, a 1.8% enhance over 2019-20.

Nevertheless, after adjusting for inflation trainer pay has declined 3.9% over the previous decade.

They undertaking that trainer pay for the 2021-22 yr will enhance an extra 1.7%, however that latest spikes in inflation across the nation imply that actual pay has declined.