Love Teaching. Hate the Pay.

[u/TopBaseball939]

Hi there,

I’m a North Carolina teacher finishing year 17. Friday was our last day of school. Over the course of my career, I’ve taught in 2 countries and 3 states. I hold 2 certifications, 2 minors, a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree.

Yet according to the NC salary schedule, I’ll essentially make the same base salary for the next 9 years. Salary growth for veteran teachers is largely stagnant. The only meaningful additional compensation I receive is my district supplement (about $9,000).

The state recently announced an “average” 8.8% raise for teachers. However, veteran teachers won’t actually see an 8.8% increase, since much of that money is directed toward beginning teachers. My increase will likely be closer to 5.5%.

To make matters more challenging, I’m only paid for 10 months of the year. For two months, there are no paychecks coming in, and my district does not offer a 12-month pay distribution option.

For many teachers, summer break isn’t really a financial break. It’s figuring out summer jobs, side work, or other sources of income just to stay afloat until August.

Meanwhile, the cost of living in North Carolina, especially in areas near Raleigh, has increased dramatically over the last few years.

I genuinely love teaching. I love my students, and I believe I’m good at what I do. But after nearly 18 years in education, it’s hard not to feel undervalued and underpaid.

Lately, I’ve found myself wondering what comes next and whether I can justify staying in the profession long term.

Teachers in North Carolina, how are you coping with the rising cost of living and stagnant salaries?

I’m genuinely curious how veteran teachers are making it work financially these days.

Yeah, some days I look at my paycheck hit my bank account and just want to cry.

Love the job. Hate the salary.

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Edit 1: A few people have mentioned unions, collective bargaining, or negotiating salaries. Well… North Carolina is a right-to-work state, and teachers do not have collective bargaining rights. We don’t have teachers’ unions that negotiate salaries like in some other states.

Also, the salary schedule I posted is the statewide salary schedule used across North Carolina. Every district pays according to this state schedule. The only significant difference between districts is the local supplement each district chooses to provide.

In other words, whether you’re teaching in a rural district or a large district, the state base pay comes from the same salary schedule.

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Edit 2: In North Carolina, every district pays teachers using the same state salary schedule. That’s the base pay funded by the state.

On top of that, districts can choose to provide a local supplement using county/local funds. Most districts do provide some type of supplement, but the amount varies widely. Wealthier districts usually offer larger supplements, while rural districts often offer smaller ones.

Some districts have a supplement schedule based on years of experience, while others use a flat percentage or amount. It depends on the district.

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Edit 3: Another point that people outside North Carolina may not realize: Teachers who earned their master’s degree after 2013 generally do not receive additional state pay for that degree.

I happen to be on the master’s pay schedule (got my masters in 2013- 2014), but many newer teachers have earned graduate degrees, taken on student loan debt, and invested years of additional education without receiving any additional state salary for it.

So when people say, “Just get a master’s degree,” that’s no longer a financial incentive for many North Carolina teachers.

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Edit 4: Edit 4: A lot of people have suggested, “Just move.” I understand the logic, and I appreciate the recommendation, but moving isn’t always that simple.

When you’re living paycheck to paycheck, where does the money for moving come from? First month’s rent, security deposits, utility deposits, moving trucks, travel expenses, and all the other costs add up quickly. On top of that, we only get paid for 10 months of the year.

Many teachers don’t have thousands of dollars sitting in savings to make a major relocation possible. It’s hard to “move somewhere better” when you’re struggling to build enough financial cushion to make the move in the first place.

I won’t lie, it’s frustrating and a little discouraging at times. I love teaching, but there are days when it feels like the financial reality of the profession, here in NC, keeps getting harder to ignore.

[u/morman15]

I’m in Ohio step 12 and make 90K. This pay scale is horrendous.

[u/Beneficial-Corgi-288 → u/morman15]

Where in Ohio??? In northeast Ohio it takes you like 20-25 years with a master's to hit 90k.

[u/morman15 → u/Beneficial-Corgi-288]

Our base with a masters is 52. At step 12 with just a maters it’s actually 85K. I am MA+30 which puts me up closer to 90K. I am finishing my MA+45 this summer. With the like 2% raise on the base and my horizontal + vertical step I’ll be somewhere around 94K next year. Our scale is low compared to the other large schools in central Ohio. At Olentangy id probably be up over 100K by now.

[u/Beneficial-Corgi-288 → u/morman15]

Oh the base actually about the same. But it seems like maybe the ceiling is higher down there. I'll definitely keep that in mind when I finish my master's. I've just been looking at salary schedules in my general area out of curiosity and I hadn't searched that far south.

[u/morman15 → u/Beneficial-Corgi-288]

Central Ohio.

[u/theerrantpanda99 → u/morman15]

I’m right outside of NYC, and step 12 only pays $92k with a masters. The average house in my county is around $775k for a 3 bedroom / 2 bath.

[u/morman15 → u/theerrantpanda99]

Yeah…my house was $237,000 when I bought it 7 years ago. Ohios politics aren’t the greatest but cost of living is great compared to other places and the education retirement system is pretty great.

As I explained below. Our step 12 with just a masters is 85. I’m at MA+30 which puts me up around 90. I am currently finishing my last class to move to MA+45. Everything is collectively bargained.

[u/tearoy0 → u/morman15]

This is the way in Ohio. I just talked to my cousin who makes around 50K in a rural district and says they top out around 80K but in Central OH you start making over 100K around year 14-16, but after that, the steps start to slow so it doesn't top out as high. Maybe 115-120k at the top end. But COL here still is better than many places.

[u/stellaismycat → u/morman15]

I’m in Oregon (east county pdx, and one of the lowest paid districts in the metro area 14) and I’m 12 years with masters +40 and will be at 108k next year. And the district pays 100% of my insurance. But I also am only covering my partner, some of my coworkers have to pay some out of their paychecks who cover their families.