Teachers in North Carolina can receive pay supplements for working in schools in low-wealth counties.
North Carolina employs about 79,000 teachers in its public school system. The teachers are technically employees of the state, even though they work for local school districts or charter schools. The districts are known as Local Education Agencies (LEAs). North Carolina has 115 LEAs and about 100 charter schools. Each year, the state's finance department sets a salary schedule for teachers, with set pay based on a teacher's experience, education and professional certification.
Salary Funding and Ranking
The N.C. Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education oversees the distribution of state funds for public education. Teacher salaries are part of the state's education budget. Approximately one-third of the state's budget is allocated for public education. North Carolina ranks 36th in the U.S. in its pay to teachers, and the average teacher pay is about $47,000 a year, based on figures that were current at time of publication.
Teachers with Bachelor's or Master's Degrees
Salaries for teachers with the minimum level of education--a bachelor's degree--range from $30,430 to $52,550 a year. Each tier of the salary schedule is based on one additional year of experience, from the entry level of two years or fewer to the maximum level of 33 years or more. In 1997 the state created a separate salary schedule for teachers certified by the National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards. Pay for teachers with board certification starts at $34,550 and goes to $58,860. Annual salaries for teachers with a master's degree ranges from $33,470 to $57,810. Board-certified teachers with a master's degree receive a salary between $38,010 and $64,750.
Teachers with Advanced Degrees
Teachers with doctorate and other advanced professional degrees earn higher salaries for teaching in North Carolina public schools, starting at $34,730 for teachers with fewer than two years of experience, to $67,280 for a teacher with a doctorate and 33 years or more of classroom experience. Board-certified teachers with advanced degrees have a salary range that starts at $40,540 and peaks at $67,280.
Salary Add-Ons
Some LEAs add a supplement from grants or municipal appropriations to teacher salaries. For instance, some systems give additional pay to experienced teachers who mentor new hires. The supplement range is between $100 and $5,200. The highest amount was for teachers in one of the largest school systems in the state, Durham County. Teachers with the most experience receive a supplement, like other experienced state employees, called longevity pay.
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