Newly released data from the National Education Association reveals that Florida continues to rank 50th out of all states and the District of Columbia in average teacher pay. Despite a 3.3% increase in the 2023-24 school year, reaching $54,875, the rise does not counteract inflationary pressures. Adjusted for inflation, salaries have decreased by 12.9% since the 2014-15 period.
According to Andrew Spar, President of the Florida Education Association (FEA), “Florida’s lawmakers say they want to lead in public education, but you can’t lead from 50th place. Florida’s 50th place ranking two years in a row is undeniable evidence that what politicians are doing right now simply isn’t working.”
Spar also highlighted the state’s critical issues, including teacher shortages, declining SAT and NAEP scores. He added, “Educators aren’t asking for riches—they’re asking for the chance to build a stable life, to afford to live in the communities they serve, and to lift up the next generation. They want to be able to teach without worrying about making ends meet, and to give every student the attention and care they deserve.”
From 2019 to the upcoming 2025-26 budget, inflation-adjusted per-student funding has dropped by $400, despite Florida’s slight climb to 39th in per student spending. Proposed budget cuts to college and career readiness programs and minimal increases in teacher salaries suggest a sustained lack of investment in education.
“There is a legacy of bad policy, and if we don’t change course, that will be the legacy that defines the future of public education in our state,” Spar warned.
The impact of low pay and inadequate policy is evident with increasing teacher shortages, worsening test scores, and widening support gaps for students. A reported increase in teacher vacancies in 20 counties, coupled with salary compression, exacerbates the issue, with experienced teachers leaving and being replaced by long-term substitutes.
Meanwhile, education staff professionals earn an average of $33,324, which is below the living wage of $61,002 needed for a family with one adult and one child in Florida. The FEA remains a significant stakeholder in this dialogue, representing a diverse body of over 120,000 members, including PreK-12 teachers, higher education faculty, and educational staff professionals.
