A bill introduced in the North Carolina House would give public school teachers a pay bump of 22% beginning with the upcoming school year.
If enacted, House Bill 192 would establish a new salary schedule for teachers, increasing starting teacher pay from $41,000 a year to $50,000. For teachers with 25 years or more of experience, the salary boost would be from $55,950 a year to $68,230.
Monthly salaries for NC teachers are based on a 10-month calendar.
The measure would also provide salary supplements for teachers who meet certain requirements. Instructors with a National Board Certification would receive a 12% monthly pay bump, while those with master’s degree would receive $126 extra per month and those with doctorates $253 extra per month. Certified school nurses would receive a 10% raise and school counselors with a master’s degree or higher would get a $100 a month pay bump.
Meanwhile, school psychologists, speech pathologists, and audiologists would receive a 10% raise plus $350 a month.
HB 192 would appropriate $1.597 billion in recurring funds for the salary increases.
The bill’s primary sponsors are Republican Reps. Erin Pare of Wake County, Donny Lambeth of Forsyth County, Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County, and Mike Schietzelt of Wake County. the bill also has a growing bipartisan list of co-sponsors.
“Teachers deserve better pay. One of the biggest impediments to getting there is the teacher salary schedule,” said Dr. Robert Luebke, director of the Center for Effective Education at the John Locke Foundation. “Why should great and not-so-great teachers with the same amount of experience be paid the same? We disincentivize excellence.”