State Teacher Salaries Fall Below National Average
Wisconsin teacher salaries have fallen below the national
average, according to a new national study.
| "Wisconsin teachers
are among the best in the nation, and their salaries should be well
above average, not below average."
_______
Michael A. Butera |
The National Education Association's Rankings of the
States report says the average Wisconsin teacher's salary in 1999-2000
was $41,153, 16th highest in the nation. That is 1.4% - or $571 - below
the national average of $41,724.
Wisconsin teacher salaries have historically been slightly
above the national average since the 1970s, except for 1997-98, when the
average fell just $120 below the national average. In 1998-99, the Wisconsin
average climbed slightly above the national average again. But the 1999-2000
average salary is the worst showing for Wisconsin teacher salaries in
recent history.
Twenty-four states, including Wisconsin, saw average
teacher salaries decline over the last decade, when adjusted for inflation.
Average Wisconsin salaries dropped 2.2% between 1989-1990
and 1999-2000, when inflation was considered.
The American Federation of Teachers, in a separate study,
ranked Wisconsin 22nd in the nation, with an average salary of $39,897.
According to the AFT report, the national average teacher salary was $41,820
in 1999-2000.
"The studies may have used slightly different methodologies
and calculations, but they arrived at the same conclusion," WEAC Executive
Director Michael A. Butera said. "Teachers are left behind. Wisconsin
teachers are among the best in the nation, and their salaries should be
well above average, not below average."
The AFT study also compared teacher salaries to other
professions and found that accountants, buyer/contract specialists, computer
systems analysts, and engineers were some of the professions with higher
salaries than teachers.
Teacher Average Salaries
| Year | Wis. | U.S. | Wis. as % of U.S. avg. |
| 1988-89 | $30,779 | $29,570 | 104.1% |
| 1989-90 | $31,921 | $31,166 | 102.4% |
| 1990-91 | $33,209 | $33,041 | 100.5% |
| 1991-92 | $35,074 | $34,148 | 102.7% |
| 1992-93 | $35,926 | $35,000 | 102.6% |
| 1993-94 | $35,990 | $35,972 | 100.1% |
| 1994-95 | $37,746 | $36,605 | 103.1% |
| 1995-96 | $38,182 | $37,685 | 101.3% |
| 1996-97 | $39,057 | $38,611 | 101.2% |
| 1997-98 | $39,357 | $39,477 | 99.7% |
| 1998-99 | $40,657 | $40,582 | 100.2% |
| 1999-00 | $41,153 | $41,724 | 98.6% |
*Source: NEA, "Rankings and Estimates, 2000
NEA Rankings
of the States
AFT study
Posted May 21, 2001, Updated May 31, 2001