Nationally, average teacher pay has barely budged since 1990, despite states pumping more funding into public schools. Across the country, new education dollars have instead gone toward additional staff, rising healthcare costs and pension obligations.
Now, some lawmakers are championing new pay mandates to force the issue, amid elevated teacher-turnover rates and a decline in people training to become teachers.
In South Dakota earlier this month, Gov. Kristi Noem signed into law a minimum teacher salary of $45,000, which will rise with inflation.
“If you want to have quality teachers enter the workforce and stay in the workforce, you have to pay them,” state representative Tony Venhuizen said at the bill’s signing ceremony. “When the state puts money into the schools, we want to see that money get into the teachers’ pockets.”
Last year, Arkansas set starting teacher pay at $50,000, a five-figure increase in many districts. The legislation also guaranteed every teacher at least a $2,000 raise. In 2026, $50,000 and $60,000 minimums will go into effect in Tennessee and Maryland, respectively.