In 2023, teachers are taking home about $3,644 less each year than they did just ten years ago, when you factor in inflation. This surprising fact came from a recent WalletHub study looking into the best and worst states for teachers in 2023. And here’s a twist: Texas teachers start off with some of the best salaries in the country, but as the years go by, they don’t see much growth in those paychecks.
Ramon Goings from the University of Maryland put it simply: “Teachers are the heartbeat of our future – shaping our next great thinkers and doers. But they aren’t being paid what they’re worth. And on top of that, they’ve been on the front lines, helping students navigate massive changes like those brought on by COVID-19.”
WalletHub took a deep dive, looking at everything from salary growth possibilities for teachers to class sizes, across all 50 states and D.C.
When it comes to spending on students in public schools, Texas is trailing behind. Let’s break down how Texas measures up in the study:
How Texas Stacks Up for Teachers (1=Best; 25=Avg.):
– Overall: 14th
– Starting Salaries (adjusted for living costs): 1st
– Average Teacher Salaries (adjusted for living costs): 13th
– School System Quality: 28th
– Class Sizes: 30th
– Spending on Each Student: 46th
– Salary Growth Over Time: 49th
– Teacher Job Market in 2030: 16th
– Change in Salaries Over 10 Years: 17th
– Having a Digital Learning Plan: 1st
It’s clear from the research: teachers make a world of difference in how students do in school. Yet, many of our teachers across the U.S. are drained – they’ve been juggling too much work and too little pay for too long.
To put this into perspective, in 2022, a poll by Gallup showed that our teachers are burning out at rates way higher than folks in other jobs, even in super stressful fields like medicine and law.