Fact Check: "The national average starting salary for teachers has declined since 2011."
What We Know
The claim that the national average starting salary for teachers has declined since 2011 is supported by various data sources. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average base salary for full-time public school teachers in the 2020-21 school year was reported as $61,600, which, when adjusted for inflation, was not measurably different from the average salary in the 2011-12 school year (source-1). However, other reports suggest that teachers' salaries have effectively decreased when considering inflation and other economic factors. For instance, a report by the National Education Association (NEA) indicated that teachers are earning approximately $2,179 less per year than they did a decade ago when adjusted for inflation (source-3).
Additionally, a recent analysis highlighted that while the average starting salary for teachers increased slightly from $44,530 in 2022-23 to $46,526 in 2023-24, this increase does not negate the overall trend of stagnation or decline in real wages over a longer period (source-5).
Analysis
The evidence regarding the claim is mixed. The NCES data indicates that the nominal average salary has not significantly changed from 2011 to 2021, suggesting stability in teacher salaries when not adjusted for inflation (source-1). However, the NEA report provides a critical perspective by emphasizing that when inflation is taken into account, teachers' purchasing power has indeed declined, leading to a real decrease in salary over the past decade (source-3).
Furthermore, the increase in starting salaries reported for the most recent school year does not reflect a long-term trend but rather a short-term adjustment that may not be sustainable. The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) also points out that teacher salaries have lagged behind those of other college-educated workers, indicating a broader issue with teacher compensation relative to other professions (source-7).
In evaluating the reliability of these sources, the NCES is a reputable government agency providing comprehensive educational statistics, while the NEA and EPI are established organizations focused on education policy and labor economics, respectively. Their reports are generally well-researched and provide valuable insights into the trends affecting teacher salaries.
Conclusion
The claim that "the national average starting salary for teachers has declined since 2011" is Partially True. While nominal salaries reported by the NCES have remained stable, the real value of those salaries has decreased when adjusted for inflation, as highlighted by various reports. Moreover, the recent increase in starting salaries does not negate the long-term trend of stagnation and decline in real wages for teachers.
