The media has done a good job of convincing the public that the 2015-17 state budget ignores veteran teachers. Apparently, some teachers in Wake County believe that veteran teachers, however that is defined, will not receive the one-time $750 bonus included in the budget. (They will.)
While much of the coverage of teacher pay increases has focused on the $2,000 a year raises given to beginning teachers, legislators also approved a provision that moves teachers up one step on the salary schedule. The result is that teachers advancing from one experience-based pay “band” to another will receive a salary increase of between 6.9 and 9.6 percent. In dollar terms, that is a $3,000 to $3,500 boost in annual salary.
For example, teachers entering their 25th year will receive an additional $3,500 a year. Those entering year 20 will receive a $3,000 boost. Although I do not know if they qualify as veterans, teachers entering year 10 or 15 will also receive a $3,500 bump in pay.
| Years of experience (2015-16) |
Monthly salary (state funds only) | Monthly increase (state funds only) |
Percent increase |
| 1-4 | $3,500.00 | $200.00 | 6.1% |
| 5 | $3,650.00 | $350.00 | 10.6% |
| 6-9 | $3,650.00 | ||
| 10 | $4,000.00 | $350.00 | 9.6% |
| 11-14 | $4,000.00 | ||
| 15 | $4,350.00 | $350.00 | 8.8% |
| 16-19 | $4,350.00 | ||
| 20 | $4,650.00 | $300.00 | 6.9% |
| 21-24 | $4,650.00 | ||
| 25 | $5,000.00 | $350.00 | 7.5% |
| 25+ | $5,000.00 |
Sure, many public school advocates would have preferred an across-the-board pay increase that gave special consideration to veteran teachers. Nevertheless, North Carolina’s teacher salary schedule is designed to reward teachers who reach certain milestones in their career. Those who do will enjoy a sizable pay increase this year.
