Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1537479
K-12 INCOME 10 ADVOCATE | SUMMER 2025 How Arizona Stacks Up 40% 87 % 95% 37% $ PRE-K-12 TEACHERS INCOME of pre-K–12 teachers hold more than one job. of pre-K–12 teachers report that low pay is a moderate or serious concern. of pre-K–12 teachers spend their own money to meet the needs of their students. of pre-K–12 teachers have a moderate or serious problem making a living wage. 40% 87 % 95% 37% PRE-K-12 TEACHERS of pre-K–12 teachers hold more than one job. pre-K–12 teachers report that low pay moderate or serious concern. of pre-K–12 teachers spend their own money to meet the needs of their students. of pre-K–12 teachers have a moderate or serious problem making a living wage. 90% 67% 35% 43% PRE-K-12 EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS INCOME 37% of pre-K-12 ESPs hold more than one job. of pre-K–12 ESPs report that low pay is a moderate or serious concern. of pre-K–12 ESPs spend their own money to meet the needs of their students. of pre-K–12 ESPs are laid o in the summer and rehired in the fall. of Pre-K–12 ESPs have a serious or moderate problem paying credit card balances. $ In April, NEA released new data for the 2023-2024 school year on teacher pay in all 50 states. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Teacher Pay is Falling Further Behind: Even with record-level increases in some states, average teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation over the past decade. Adjusted for inflation, on average, American teachers are making 5% less than they did 10 years ago. e Union Advantage: Teachers earn 24% more, on average, in states with collective bargaining, and education support professionals earn 7% more. HERE'S HOW ARIZONA STACKS UP: • Crowded Classrooms: Arizona had the second-highest number of students enrolled per teacher (22.6). e average number of students enrolled per teacher nationwide remained at 15.1. e lowest student-to-teacher ratios in the country were Vermont (10.3), New Hampshire (10.5) and New York (11.1) • Too Little Funding: Arizona ranks 48th in the nation in terms of per-student spending • Lagging Salaries: Arizona's average teacher salary for the 2023-2024 school year was $62,714 – nearly $10,000 below the national average of $72,030. e average full-time Arizona ESP makes $32,374 – nearly $5,000 below the national average of $37,097. • Both average ESP salaries ($32,374) and average teacher salaries ($62,714) rank below Arizona's minimum living wage – the income needed for a family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro areas. Source: https://www.nea.org/resource-library/educator-pay-and-student-spending-how-does-your-state-rank