State Teachers Lost Ground to Inflation
Wisconsin teachers lost 1.1% of their income over the last 10 years,
according to a new report.
The National Education Association’s annual “Rankings of the
States” found average Wisconsin public school teacher salaries fell
1.1% in constant dollars between 1988-89 and 1998-99.
In current dollars, teacher salaries rose 32.1%. Wisconsin’s per-capita
personal income rose 64.9% between 1987 and 1997.
“This report is more evidence that Wisconsin teacher salaries are
losing ground to inflation and the rest of the state,” WEAC Collective
Bargaining Director Bob West said.
The average Wisconsin public school teacher salary of $40,657, ranked
16th in the country in 1998-1999. Wisconsin ranked 16th the previous year
as well. Wisconsin salaries are at about the national average of $40,582.
“We project that if teacher settlements continue the trend established
over the last five years, pay will increase between 2% and 2.5% annually,
about half the increase the rest of the state’s population is expected
to see,” West said. “Wisconsin’s strong economy is leaving
teachers behind.”
Posted December 17, 1999