RD113 - Biennial Report on Public School Teacher Compensation


Executive Summary:
Beginning Teacher Salaries

In the 2006-2007 school year, the average entry-level salary for Virginia public school teachers was $34,527. The Virginia entry-level teacher salary was 0.8% above the entry-level salary of private and state jobs requiring similar education and training. When adjusted to reflect the actual number of days worked annually (200 for teachers and 234 for private sector employees); the entry-level salary for Virginia public school teachers is 17.9% above that of private industry.

Entry-level salaries for teachers are 26.1% higher than salaries for comparable state positions. When adjusted to reflect the actual number of days worked annually (200 for teachers, 234 for state employees), the entry-level salary for Virginia public school teachers is 47.6% above that of comparable state employees.

The 2004-2005 survey by the American Federation of Teachers ranks Virginia 21st out of the fifty states and the District of Columbia in average salaries for beginning teachers. The Virginia average is 4.6% above the national average for beginning teacher’s salaries.

Average Teacher Salaries

The average annual salary for Virginia public school teachers has risen from $19,676 in 1984 to $47,229 in 2006.

The average public school teacher salary in Virginia for 2005-2006 ranks fifth among 16 states in the Southern Regional Education Board.

Final decisions on increases to teacher salaries are made by localities. Average salaries for 2006 ranged from a high of $65,790 in Arlington County to a low of $30,446 in Amelia County.

Actions Taken to Improve Teacher Salaries

Local school boards engaged in a variety of initiatives aimed at increasing teacher pay. In 2006 -2007, most jurisdictions reported increases for their teachers’ salaries. Martinsville provided the highest budgeted amount of 21.38% for teachers’ salaries in Fiscal Year 2007, with an average increase by localities of 4.15%.

In the 2007 Appropriation Act, Chapter 951 of the 2007 Virginia Acts of Assembly, the General Assembly proposed and the Governor approved a budget appropriating state tax funds sufficient to provide each classroom teacher with a 4.0% pay raise. With the Governor and General Assembly approving the 4.0% teacher salary increases, localities have budgeted a combined average teacher salary increase of 4.25% percent.