Wisconsin's Average Teacher Salary Rose Just 1.15% Last Year
Wisconsin’s average teacher salary rose just 1.15% in 1995-96, according
to a new report from the NEA.
“Wisconsin’s
average teacher salary increased just 1.15% at a time when inflation
is rising at about 3%. That is the equivalent of a salary reduction
of nearly 2%." |
According to the NEA’s annual “Rankings of the States,”
the average Wisconsin teacher salary rose from $37,746 in 1994-95 to $38,182
in 1995-96. Because teacher salaries have been stagnating in other states
as well, Wisconsin’s ranking went from 16 to 15, staying barely above
the national average teacher salary of $37,835.
“Wisconsin’s average teacher salary increased just 1.15% at
a time when inflation is rising at about 3%,” said WEAC President
Terry Craney. “That is the equivalent of a salary reduction of nearly
2%.
“This is especially troubling in Wisconsin, where the governor used
his State of the State message to brag about rising family incomes.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Wisconsin’s median household
income increased 22.24% from 1993 to 1995.
The 1.15% increase is the result of the 1993 changes in the state’s
collective bargaining law, which contains the “Qualified
Economic Offer” provision. That provision in effect prevents
teachers from going to arbitration if the school board offers a minimal
salary package.
NEA President Bob Chase also lamented the impact of low salaries on the
teaching profession nationally.
“The salary outlook for teachers is troubling,” Chase said.
“The nation needs 2 million new teachers over the next 10 years,
and how are we going to attract qualified people to the teaching profession
without attractive salaries?
“Teaching is an emotionally, physically, and intellectually challenging
career that today garners too little respect and low pay relative to comparable
professionals. We must do better if we want to attract the best. We can’t
talk about the need for quality teachers when we’re not offering
them adequate salaries.”
“Rankings of the States” is an annual report distributed by
NEA Research. Other trends noted in the report:
- Enrollment is accelerating. For the United States as a whole, K-12
enrollment increased 1.7% between fall 1994 and fall 1995, a higher
rate than the general population increase of 1.0%.
- The number of classroom teachers also increased by 1.7%, leaving the
17.1 pupils enrolled per teacher in 1994 the same for 1995.
- The percentage of public school teachers who are men is 26.6%, the
same as the previous year but less than the 30.5% reported 10 years
ago.
- School funding continues to become more state-oriented. On a national
average basis, between 1994-95 and 1995-96, the local share of K-12
public education revenue fell from 45.5% to 45.0%, the state share increased
from 47.6% to 47.9%, and the federal share increased from 6.9% to 7.1%.
Copies of Ranking of the States 1996 may be ordered from the NEA Professional
Library, P.O. Box 509, West Haven, CT 06516, telephone (800) 229-4200.
The cost is $18.95.
Posted February 20, 1997