North Carolina Teacher Pay Set to Drop, Ranking 46th Nationwide in 2026
New data reveals North Carolina as the only state where teacher salaries will drop this year, falling to 46th nationally while educators struggle with rising costs.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — North Carolina is currently the only state where teacher salaries are expected to decrease this year, placing it 46th in national educator pay rankings according to a new National Education Association report.
The 2026 report indicates North Carolina teachers will earn an average salary of $59,971 for the 2025-26 school year, down from $60,323 the previous year. This marks a three-spot drop from last year’s ranking, while the national average public school teacher salary increased by 3.5% to $74,495 in 2023-24.
This decline occurs as state lawmakers have yet to pass a budget for the current fiscal year, leaving teacher compensation largely unchanged while living costs continue to rise across the state.
State Trails All Neighboring Areas in Pay
North Carolina now ranks behind every neighboring state in educator compensation. Teachers would need a 21% salary increase to match Georgia‘s average teacher pay of $72,758, according to the NEA data.
The pay disparity affects educators throughout the state. Stephanie Wallace, a Forsyth County teacher, works multiple jobs to supplement her income, including weekend shifts at a Chili’s restaurant to make ends meet.
“If you look at my pay increase as a veteran teacher,” Wallace said, “I am, in fact, making less than I was making about a decade ago.” She noted her pay has risen about 9% since 2018, while her living costs have increased far more over the same period.
Funding Issues Extend Beyond Teacher Salaries
The state’s education funding challenges go beyond teacher compensation. North Carolina also ranks 46th nationally in per-student funding, spending approximately $13,680 per student — nearly $5,500 below the national average.
Nationally, teachers earn about 5% less than they did a decade ago when adjusted for inflation, highlighting broader challenges facing the education profession.
North Carolina Association of Educators leaders attributed the poor rankings to legislative policy decisions, specifically citing tax cuts and private school voucher programs.
“The downward trend in our rankings reflects the choices of a General Assembly that has spent years funneling public money away from public schools through corporate tax cuts and the expansion of private school vouchers,” said Tamika Walker Kelly, the organization’s president, during a virtual press conference this morning.
Officials Call Rankings ‘Unacceptable’
State Superintendent Mo Green criticized the 46th-place ranking as inadequate for the state’s educational goals.
“North Carolina is not paying its teachers what they deserve, and we are losing ground while other states move forward,” Green said in a statement to NC Newsline.
Green expressed optimism that upcoming budget proposals might address the compensation gaps, though specific details about potential salary increases remain unclear as legislative discussions continue.
The teacher pay decline comes amid ongoing debates over education funding priorities in North Carolina, with advocates calling for increased investment in public school teacher compensation and resources.
