The Latest from VEA

Today, the VEA released the 2022-23 Salary Study for Teachers. This report contains data on teacher salaries at both the Bachelor’s and Master’s level. The data were drawn from surveys completed by 110 of Virginia’s 131 school divisions.

We know that effective teachers are the most important school-based determinant of student educational performance, and low pay in Virginia is contributing to teacher shortages that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. There are now more educators leaving the profession than entering it, at a time when many students are requiring increased levels of educational,
social, and/or emotional support as they recover from effects of the pandemic.

This year, we find that average teacher salaries increased by roughly six percent over 2021-22 levels.  According to the most recent state-by-state comparison, Virginia’s average teacher salary is $6,787 below the national average, which ranks our state 25th nationally.  In contrast, Virginia continually ranks among the richer states in the country, recently ranking 12th among the states in per capita personal income, yet teachers in Virginia are paid an average of 67 cents for each dollar paid to their similarly educated peers in other professions. This is the third largest teacher pay penalty in the country.

State funding is currently in place for a five percent salary increase for SOQ-funded positions this year and next. (And based on the increase in average salaries over 2021-22 levels, it looks as though many divisions are participating in the compensation incentive this year.) Unfortunately, we are so far behind that even this potential 10.25% increase (assuming full participation by divisions in both years) is unlikely to get Virginia’s average teacher salary to the national average. In fact, VEA estimates an additional six percent increase will be needed in the second year of the biennium (for a total increase in FY24 of 11%) to achieve that goal.

The good news is that the state is currently in an excellent position to make much-needed consequential improvements to teacher salaries (as well as other areas of school funding), having closed out FY22 with a record $1.9 billion surplus and now anticipating up to $3.6 billion in excess resources this fiscal year.

Legislation and budget amendments will likely be filed during the 2023 General Assembly session to expand upon the existing five percent increase for next fiscal year and to codify that
Virginia’s teachers shall be paid at a competitive rate, at or above the national average. VEA is asking members to please discuss these initiatives when meeting with, or otherwise communicating with, their legislators this session.

More information, including fact sheets and other resources, can be found on the Strong Schools Strong Communities website.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT HERE