Public school teachers

NPR - The average salary for public school teachers in the U.S. is up 3.5% from the previous year. However, when adjusted for inflation, today's teachers are estimated to earn less than they did in 2017, according to a new review of school-related data from the National Education Association. Here are some key findings:

🧑‍🏫 The average salary for new teachers in the U.S. is $46,112. Among the locations with the highest salaries are the District of Columbia ($64,640), and Washington ($60,658). The states with the lowest starting salaries are Montana ($36,682) and Nebraska ($39,561). 
🧑‍🏫 The beginning of the 2024-25 school year saw a 0.3% drop in student enrollment from the previous fall. Since 2016, schools have experienced a roughly 3.6% decline in enrollment.
🧑‍🏫 States with collective bargaining laws have higher average starting salaries and top salaries than states without them.
🧑‍🏫 Washington stands out among the 11 states that have seen an inflation-adjusted increase in teacher pay since 2017. Teacher pay in the state has increased 36%. The rise came after the state’s supreme court put the state on notice and imposed a $100,000-a-day fine to ensure better funding and support for public schools.