A recent study comparing teacher pay across states gave Florida the awful ranking of 50th in the US due to the state’s teacher salary. According to data from the National Education Association for 2024, the average yearly salary for educators in the Sunshine State is $53,098; this is substantially less than the national average of $69,544.
The average salary of a public school teacher in Florida increased by 4.1% in 2022–2023, although this rise did not keep up with inflation during the previous ten years. Over this time, the state’s teacher salaries have decreased by 5% in actual terms after accounting for inflation.
The report sheds light on how the Lee County School District compares:
- Average teacher starting salary: Ranked 16th nationally at $47,178.
- Average teacher salary: Ranked 50th nationally at $53,098.
- Average K-12 support staff pay: Ranked 27th nationally at $32,127.
- Average higher education faculty salary: Ranked 15th nationally at $102,927.
- Average higher education support staff pay: Ranked 38th nationally at $41,778.
These figures emphasize the difficulties that teachers in Lee County and throughout Florida experience as a result of relatively low pay levels, emphasizing the necessity of resolving income discrepancies in order to draw and keep talented educators.