Each year, the NEA’s Department of Collective Bargaining and Research compiles data from prek-12 schools as it pertains to salaries, enrollment and more and compiles what is known as its Rankings and Estimates Report. Maine Educator’s editor read through the detailed report and pulled the most relevant information to MEA members. MEA encourages you to use this information as you work to negotiate new contracts regarding pay and benefits.
Starting Teacher Salary 2020-2021 and Inflation
The average starting teacher salary in the United States for 2020-2021 was $41,770, an increase of 1.4% over 2019-2020. When adjusted for inflation, this represents a 4% decrease from 2019-2020, undoing all the gains made over the previous two years. Real inflation adjusted starting salaries are now $1,689 below 2008-2009 levels.
19.2% Wage Penalty for Teachers
The Economic Policy Institute’s most recent analysis of the erosion of teacher pay finds a 19.2% wage penalty for teachers when compared to other college educated workers with similar characteristics. Applying this pay gap to starting teacher salaries means that to make them competitive on a national basis with the salaries of other college graduates, starting pay for teachers needs to increase by $10,000; a level paid by just over 10 percent of school districts.
Maine
Starting Teacher Salary ’20-’21
$37,580
43rd in the U.S.
20.2% of districts starting pay at least $40K
NEW ENGLAND
AVG. TEACHER SALARY ’21-’22
| STATE | SALARY |
|---|---|
| MASSACHUSETTS | $88,903 |
| CONNECTICUT | $81,185 |
| RHODE ISLAND | $78,852 |
| VERMONT | $62,866 |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | $62,783 |
| MAINE | $58,866 |
Maine – State Educator Pay
Of all New England states, Maine saw the greatest percentage of increase in average teacher salaries from 2020-2022 at +2.78%. However, even with the greatest increase, as indicated by the numbers above, the average Maine teacher salary is still the lowest in all of New England.
