Teacher Pay Penalty Hits Record High

Weekly wages of public school teachers in the U.S. continue to lag those of college graduates in other careers.

A new report from the Economic Policy Institute and the Center for Economic and Policy Research reveals teachers in the U.S. faced a record 27 percent teacher pay penalty in 2024.

The growing disparity raises concerns about teacher recruitment and retention amid ongoing staffing shortages.

A few key findings from the report include:

• Inflation-adjusted weekly wages for teachers have declined by $46.39 in the last decade, but college graduates in other careers have seen a $220.46 weekly increase.
• Although teachers typically receive better benefits compared to other professionals, this advantage is still not enough to compensate for the gap.
• Teachers were paid less than other similarly educated professionals in every state.

For more insights, visit the Economic Policy Institute website to read the full report.