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Commonwealth Backsliding on Teacher Pay

VEA's newest report on teacher salaries finds that benchmark salaries in the Commonwealth--the average figure school divisions pay to teachers at entry level and after 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years in the profession--declined across the board this year.

In another sign that educators are sharing the burden of the economic recession, these benchmarks declined for the first time since VEA began tracking the average change in 1993. The decline ranged from .1 percent to 1.4 percent, depending on the particular benchmark. One way to understand the decline: a teacher with five years of experience in 2009-2010 is being paid about the same, or less, than a teacher with four years of experience earned in 2008-2009.

The publication of the report, "2009-2010 Salary Schedules for Teachers, Volume I: Benchmarks and Rankings," comes as lawmakers in the General Assembly are considering massive cuts in education funding to localities, virtually guaranteeing another year of frozen or decreased salaries. Virginia has fallen below the national average in teacher pay, as small increases in pay during brighter economic times were not enough to help the Commonwealth move up in the rankings.

Among the report's findings:

• Fairfax County/City paid the highest beginning salary ($44,389) for a candidate with a BA. Number one in the other BA benchmarks were: 5 years (Arlington, $52,378); 10 years (Arlington, $63,663); 15 years (Alexandria, $70,115); 20 years (Fairfax County/City, $78,449); 25 years (Prince William, $89,610); 30 years (Prince William, $89,610).
• According to the study's calculation of "career earnings," an educator who goes through BA steps 1-7 and MA steps 8-31 in Arlington would earn nearly $2.4 million over her career. That's the highest in the state. The lowest paid would be an educator more through the same steps in Grayson County, who would earn approximately 1.2 million.

Members only: View or download Volume I here. You may also obtain a single copy free of charge by contacting VEA Research, 116 South 3rd St., Richmond, VA 23219 or calling 800-552-9554.

Non-members: Although Volume I is reserved for VEA members, you may access Volume II, which includes salary scales from school divisions across the Commonwealth.