Wisconsin Teacher Salaries Fall to 7.2% Below National Average
| Wisconsin teacher average salaries | | Year | Rank | Wisconsin | U.S. | % of US avg. | | 1988-89 | 14 | $30,779 | $29,570 | 104.1% | | 1989-90 | 16 | $31,921 | $31,166 | 102.4% | | 1990-91 | 15 | $33,209 | $33,041 | 100.5% | | 1991-92 | 13 | $35,074 | $34,148 | 102.7% | | 1992-93 | 15 | $35,926 | $35,000 | 102.6% | | 1993-94 | 16 | $35,990 | $35,972 | 100.1% | | 1994-95 | 16 | $37,746 | $36,605 | 103.1% | | 1995-96 | 15 | $38,182 | $37,685 | 101.3% | | 1996-97 | 15 | $39,057 | $38,611 | 101.2% | | 1997-98 | 15 | $39,357 | $39,477 | 99.7% | | 1998-99 | 16 | $40,657 | $40,582 | 100.2% | | 1999-00 | 16 | $41,153 | $41,724 | 98.6% | | 2000-01 | 21 | $42,122 | $43,339 | 97.2% | | 2001-02 | 22 | $42,232 | $44,499 | 94.9% | | 2002-03 | 21 | $42,775 | 45,810 | 93.3% | | 2003-04 | 22 | $43,382 | $46,726 | 92.8% | | Source: NEA Rankings and Estimates | |
Wisconsin's teacher salaries continued to slide on a national scale
in 2003-04, falling to 7.2% below the national average, according to
figures compiled by the National Education Association.
In its latest update to the annual National Rankings and Estimates
report, the NEA said Wisconsin's average teacher salary in 2003-04 was
$43,382, compared to the national average of $46,726.
While teacher salaries nationally rose 2% in 2003-04, they increased
by only 1.4% in Wisconsin. That continues a steady decline in relative
teacher salaries in Wisconsin, from 104% of the national average in
1988-89 to 92.8% of the national average in 2003-04.
"These numbers provide a window into the future of our school
system," said WEAC President Stan Johnson. "What we see is
a steady erosion of support for the people who have made our school
system one of the very best in the nation. These declining salaries
will cause the best of our teachers to leave the state or leave the
profession, and will deter the best and brightest of our young people
from choosing the education profession. If the quality of our teachers
declines, so will the quality of the education this state provides its
children."
Wisconsin teacher salaries have been declining, relative to inflation,
since 1993, when the Legislature passed and then-Governor Tommy Thompson
signed a restrictive collective bargaining law for teachers, called
the Qualified Economic Offer law.
Wisconsin teacher salaries were 13th in the nation in 1991-92, and
have been on a long-term decline in ranking ever since. For 2002-03,
Wisconsin's teacher salaries ranked 22nd in the nation.
"We believe every kid deserves a great school," Johnson said.
"But every child will not have a great school in Wisconsin if we
continue to send the message that we disrespect our great teachers."
Johnson noted that Wisconsin public schools are consistently ranked
among the best in the nation. For example, Wisconsin students have been
first or tied for first in the nation on the ACT college entrance exams
for the last 10 years.
"Today, our teacher salaries rank 22nd in the nation; tomorrow
the quality of our education could also drop to 22nd," Johnson
said. "We can't let this erosion continue. We should take enormous
pride in our great schools and do everything we can to preserve them."
Posted December 3, 2004