How much do Mississippi teachers make? Report ranks MS education salaries last in country
Mississippi teachers had the lowest average salary in the U.S. for the 2023-24 school year, according to recently published reports by the National Education Association.
The data looked at average teacher salaries and the average pay for starting teachers for the state. California came in at the top of both lists. While Mississippi was last in overall teacher pay, it ranked higher when considering only new teacher compensation.
The rankings come when the state and nation fight a teacher shortage. Data released by the Mississippi Department of Education in December outlines teacher, administrator, and school support staff vacancies. As of the fall semester, the state had almost 3,000 open teacher positions in K-12 schools.
How is the state working to fill those gaps?
Here's what you need to know about how Mississippi pays teachers and how it compares to other states. See how teacher pay is pacing with inflation nationally, and learn where the state has the most available teacher positions.
What is the average Mississippi teacher salary?
The 2023-24 NEA Rankings and Estimates report showed that the average teacher in the Magnolia State made $53,507 last year. This is a 0.7% increase from the previous year's average salary of $53,354. Additionally, this figure is more than $18,000 lower than the nationwide average of $72,030.
California pays $101,084.
How does Mississippi rank in pay for new teachers?
Mississippi's average teacher starting salary for the 2023-24 school year was $42,492, according to the NEA Teacher Salary Benchmark Report. It ranked 40th in the nation. This figure is just over $4,000 higher than the national average starting teacher salary of $46,526.
California pays $58,409. The lowest-paying state was Montana at $35,674.
According to the benchmark report, starting teacher salaries across the United States "picked up a little momentum" last year, increasing by an average of 4.4%. This jump marks the most significant increase over the 15 years NEA has been tracking this data.
You can read both reports online at nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/state-teacher-pay.
Salary increases vs inflation amid an ongoing teacher shortage
While educators have begun to see "long-overdue pay increases," partly thanks to union advocacy both at the bargaining table and with state legislature, the average teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation, NEA said. When adjusted for inflation, according to the report, teachers make on average 5% less than they did 10 years ago and 9% less than the peak in 2009-10.
Last year, the national average teacher salary saw an increase of 3.8%, just below the 4% increase reported the year before and still less than 2009-10. While the data shows that salaries have improved, NEA says that they are "still likely too low to make any lasting positive impact on teacher recruitment and retention."
These reports come amid an ongoing teacher shortage, both in Mississippi and across the country. This crisis, fueled by retention challenges and a drop in the number of students seeking teaching degrees, was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
More: Head Start cut would put Mississippi's new status as early education national leader at risk
Where does Mississippi have teacher shortages?
The short answer is "everywhere."
The Office of Teaching and Learning ran the Educator Shortage Survey from Aug. 20 to Nov. 1. All traditional public schools responded, including staff vacancies (or anticipated vacancies) and their strategies to handle the issue.
Mississippi had 2,964 vacant teacher positions. There were 189 more unfilled jobs since the 2023-24 school year, and 72 fewer since 2021-22.
According to the report, the spots were at the following grade levels:
Elementary Teachers (PreK-6th): 847.
Middle School Teachers: 418.
High School Teachers: 896.
K-12 Teachers (i.e., Music): 803.
The largest shortage was in Mississippi's Second Congressional District with 964, followed by the Third at 890, the Fourth at 644 and the First at 466.
Another 228 spots for licensed educators were open.
Library/Media: 49.
Counselor: 72.
Speech/Language: 107.
Across the state, there were also 98 unfilled administrator seats. Forty-three were for principal positions, and 55 were for assistance principals.
Almost 1,900 spots for support staff also weren't filled. Roles include teacher assistants (530), nurse (56), custodian (233), bus driver (533), food service staff (403) and administrative assistant (115).
How is the state working to fight teacher shortage?
According to the December data, the state launched a three-prong approach to get new talent and keep the teachers they have.
The Educator Talent Portal in the Mississippi Educator Career Continuum Archive is meant to boost recruiting ahead of the 2024-25 academic year. Open jobs will be advertised across the state and the U.S.
The state is reviewing educator licensure requirements to find ways to address shortages in specific subjects. They're focusing on elementary, math and special education.
And a new program, Leading Education Achievement in Districts and Schools (LEADS), aims to be "a structured focus on effective district and school administration."
The state also previously launched new alternate-route options for some students to get a Master of Arts in Teaching and/or a supplemental endorsement.
Mississippi also has a teacher residency program, which puts student teachers in the classroom with support from mentors.
More: 'Detrimental' to school kids: MS education department set to lose $137M in COVID funds
What are the Top 10 states paying teachers the most?
The 10 states (and Washington, D.C.) with the highest average teacher salary during the 2023-24 school year, according to the NEA, were:
California: $101,084.
New York: $95,615.
Massachusetts: $92,076.
Washington: $91,720.
District of Columbia: $86,663.
Connecticut: $86,511.
Maryland: $84,338.
New Jersey: $82,877.
Rhode Island: $82,189.
Alaska: $78,256.
More: New degree programs for JSU, Mississippi State and Southern Miss approved by IHL
What are the Top 10 states paying teachers the least?
The 10 states with the lowest average teacher salary during the 2023-24 school year, according to the NEA, were:
Mississippi: $53,704.
Florida: $54,875.
Missouri: $55,132.
West Virginia: $55,516.
Louisiana: $55,911.
South Dakota: $56,328.
Montana: $57,556.
Kansas: $58,146.
North Carolina: $58,292.
Kentucky: $58,325.
Amanda Wallace covers breaking news and trending topics in North Jersey. Email her at AMWallace@gannett.com.
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS teacher salaries ranked dead last in US, new report says
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