North Carolina drops to 46th in teacher pay, only state projecting salary decline
RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) –North Carolina ranks near the bottom nationally in teacher pay and is the only state expected to see average educator salaries decline this year, according to a new report from the National Education Association.
The organization’s 2026 Educator Pay in America report estimates North Carolina will rank 46th in the nation for teacher pay in the 2025-26 school year — a drop of three spots from the previous year. The report also highlights broader concerns about school funding and educator support across the state.
Average teacher pay in North Carolina is projected at $59,971, down from $60,323 the year prior. By comparison, the national average exceeds $76,500, widening the pay gap to more than $16,500. Neighboring states, including Georgia and Virginia, continue to outpace North Carolina by significant margins.
The report attributes the decline in part to the state’s failure to pass a new budget, which has left teacher salaries unable to keep up with inflation and rising living costs.
“North Carolina’s placement in these rankings is an embarrassment,” said Tamika Walker Kelly, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators. “When you starve public schools of funding and let teacher pay decline, you are not just failing children — you are undermining the promise that every student deserves an equal opportunity.”
Beyond salaries, the report also points to declining investment in public education overall. North Carolina ranks 46th in per-student funding, with estimated spending of $13,680 per student — well below the national average of nearly $19,000. The state has seen only minimal increases in per-pupil funding in recent years and now trails most of its regional peers.
The gap is particularly stark when compared to top-performing Southeastern states, with North Carolina spending thousands less per student.
The report did note modest gains for Education Support Professionals — including teacher assistants, bus drivers, and custodial staff — whose average salaries rose to about $33,521, improving their national ranking from 36th to 32nd. Still, those wages remain below the national average and, according to policy analysts, fall short of a living wage in many parts of the state.
The NEA’s annual rankings and estimates report, widely cited since the 1960s, examines educator pay and school funding across all 50 states and serves as a benchmark for comparing education investment nationwide.
The findings arrive as debates over education funding and teacher compensation continue in the North Carolina General Assembly, with advocates calling for increased investment to retain educators and strengthen public schools.
The North Carolina Association of Educators, which represents teachers and school staff in all 100 counties, says the report underscores the need for urgent action to improve pay, increase funding, and ensure every student has access to a high-quality education.
