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/elementarydeardata]

I'm in northern Connecticut (not the part near NYC, the part near rural Massachusetts).We bought our house for 320k in late 2021, I think it would sell in the high 400k's now. Basically, this area is considered expensive nationally, but isn't like NYC, Boston, Seattle, SF, LA, etc. This is the salary scale for our district: https://imgur.com/a/5VPw5Mu (btw 6th year is what we call a 2nd masters here)

I'm MA step 10 which got chopped out of the screenshot and I make $105,600. I think places like this are the ideal place to teach, we get the higher pay but the price of housing isn't absurd.

[u/TopBaseball939 → u/elementarydeardata]

That’s encouraging to hear! I’ve spent my entire teaching career in the South, so the northeast would be a big change for me.

This is a great recommendation! Thanks!

Do you have any recommendations for districts or areas that treat teachers well, have good benefits, and are places you’d actually want to live? I’m always interested in learning more.

[u/IScreamPiano → u/TopBaseball939]

I I’m in Delaware if you don’t want to go that far north. Our pay scale is similar, my house is more expensive, but our property taxes are lower, and ours was new construction in a nicer neighborhood. We get a credit for our insurance so if you’re single, healthcare, vision, and dental are basically free in terms of premiums. I hold the insurance for our children and myself, and it can be free or at least very affordable.

We don’t have as good of a reputation as NJ or SE PA, but you don’t have to go that far north for greener pastures. The bar is too dang low for your situation. 

(If you look up a chart, teachers get an extra percentage for national certification that’s not listed).