Teacher Salary Trends and School Funding: A Comprehensive NEA Report
The National Education Association (NEA) released a report showing that the average salary for public school teachers in the U.S. increased to $74,495 in the last school year, a 3.5% rise from the previous year. However, when adjusted for inflation, teachers' real earnings are estimated to have decreased since 2017. The report provides data on teacher and support staff salaries, student enrollment, and school funding from federal, state, and local sources.
The report breaks down teacher salaries by state and region, with California, New York, and Washington having the highest average salaries, while Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana have the lowest. The data have not been adjusted for cost of living differences, which could impact the salary rankings.
NEA researchers projected teacher salary averages for 2026 and compared them to 2017 salaries. Despite an apparent increase in pay over the decade, when adjusted for inflation, teachers' real earnings have declined by nearly 5%. NEA President Becky Pringle emphasized the need for fair pay and support for educators to retain them in the profession.
Washington state saw a significant 36% increase in teacher pay due to a court mandate to improve public school funding. The report also highlighted the average starting salaries for new teachers, with the District of Columbia, Washington, and California having the highest, and Montana, Nebraska, and Missouri having the lowest.
Support staff in public schools, including custodians and cafeteria workers, saw a $1,400 increase in average salary in 2024-25, but an inflation-adjusted analysis revealed a pay decrease since 2016. States with collective bargaining laws tend to have higher average starting and top salaries for teachers, with a 13% wage bump for school support staff in those states.
Enrollment in public schools has declined by 3.6% since 2016, with a 0.3% drop at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio varies by state, with some states having more students per teacher than others. Federal funding accounted for 7.8% of schools' total revenue in the last school year, with state and local governments providing the majority of funding.
Despite President Trump's efforts to reduce the federal role in education, federal dollars mainly support schools in addressing student poverty and special education services. The federal share of school funding decreased to 7.3% in 2025, with some states relying more on federal support due to the impact of COVID-19 relief funds. Republican-controlled states are among those where federal support makes up a significant portion of school funding.