Teacher Pay

WUNC's series "From Politics to Paychecks" explores how political decisions are affecting NC educators' finances. This teacher is paring back because the state offers no raise to veteran teachers.

WUNC's series "From Politics to Paychecks" shows how political decisions, including a delayed state budget, are affecting NC educators' finances and families.

A group of North Carolina educators is organizing campaigns to challenge incumbent state lawmakers in next year's Republican primary elections.

State lawmakers plan to wrap up their session this week without a full budget agreement. That impasse prompted the state Senate and House to propose scaled-back spending bills — but so far they can't even agree on the details of that.

The House's budget makes several moves to improve teacher pay that aren't in the Senate's proposal, with big raises for starting teachers and restoring "master's pay."

The state House’s budget bill would delay scheduled income tax cuts while giving state employees and teachers larger raises than the Senate is proposing.

North Carolina's average teacher salary is ranked below neighboring states, and is about $14,000 less than the national average.

Rep. Erin Paré, a co-chair of the House Appropriations Committee, has filed legislation to increase starting teacher pay to $50,000.

Gov. Roy Cooper attended the state board of education meeting Thursday to share his thoughts on public school funding, alongside Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and State Superintendent Catherine Truitt.

Durham Public Schools will reduce raises given to some staff. In its place, all classified staff – nearly 1,900 employees – will get an 11% raise.