North Carolina schools provide varied experiences for teachers. If you are looking to get started with teaching, we’ve collected information to help you figure out what your first salary will be.
Education career can be very rewarding, especially when you start. Starting salary for teachers in North Carolina will vary greatly depending on the position and school district. The average starting salary for a teacher in North Carolina is $36,000, but we expect to see an increase in the next couple of years due to new education funding from the tax hike on online retailers.
Starting salaries for teachers in North Carolina are among the lowest in the nation, according to a recent report. The report said that the average annual starting salary for a teacher with a Bachelor’s degree was $34,750 and those with a Master’s degree earned $37,925 on average.
Starting Salary For Teachers In NC Overview
When you first start out as an educator in North Carolina, you’ll make a salary between $34,000 and $45,000. That’s according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Teacher Salary Schedule for the 2019-20 school year.
The NCDPI teacher salary schedule includes information about both public schools and private schools in North Carolina. In order to get access to that information, all you have to do is go here: https://www.ncpublicschools.org/teacher-salary-schedule
If you’re interested in finding out more about your starting salary as a teacher in North Carolina, this article can help: https://www.ncpublicschools.org/blog/2019/04/starting-salary-for-teachers-in-north-carolina
How much does an Entry Level Teacher make in North Carolina?
The average Entry Level Teacher salary in North Carolina is $39,701 as of July 26, 2022, but the range typically falls between $33,158 and $48,406. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
What Does a NC Teacher Make Annually?
North Carolina teachers provide instruction in the state’s 115 K-12 public schools. Like most school districts around the country, they earn salaries based on their education levels and years of experience. The state offers additional compensation for special certifications. A NC teacher can choose to receive her annual salary in 10 or 12 monthly payments. Monthly figures shown assume 12 installments.
There is no differentiation in salary for grade levels K-12. In other words, an elementary school teacher salary in North Carolina is the same as a teacher in middle school or high school.
Salary with a Bachelor’s Degree
An entry-level North Carolina teacher, who has a bachelor’s degree, a teacher certification and up to three years teaching experience, starts at $35,000 for the 2020-2021 school, reports North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The state increases teacher compensation for every year of experience up to 25 years, which places the salary range for bachelor’s degree holders between $35,000 and $52,000. For example, a teacher with 10 years experience earns $45,000 per year, and a teacher with 20 years experience earns $50,000.
Teachers who meet National Board for Professional Teacher Standards (NBPTS) earn more. Teachers can be NBPTS certified after three years of experience. Salary ranges at the bachelor’s degree level range from $42,560 to $58,240.
Salary with a Master’s Degree
Earning a master’s degree can be lucrative for North Carolina teachers. A teacher who starts her career with a master’s degree earns $38,500 per year, and her annual salary increases for each year experience up to 25 years. For example, a teacher with a master’s degree and 10 years experience earns $49,500 per year, and a teacher with 20 years experience earns $55,000 per year, as of 2020. With NBPTS certification, beginning with three years of experience, salaries range from $46,360 to $63,440.
Salary for Advanced and Doctoral Degrees
Teachers who have continued their education beyond the master’s degree level receive an additional financial benefit. Salaries are shown in monthly amounts assuming 12 monthly installments, ranging from $3,3133.33 for first year teachers to $4,871.67 for teachers with 25 or more years of experience. Pay for those with NBPTS certification ranges from $3,968.33 to $5,391.67 monthly.
Doctorate degree holders can earn higher pay starting at $3,419.17 for the first year and $4,977.50 for 25 years or more. For NBPTS certification, pay ranges from $4,074.15 to $5,497.50.
North Carolina Teacher Assistant Salary
The employment website Salary puts the median North Carolina teacher assistant salary at $22,031. Median salary means that half in the occupation earn more, while half earn less. As with most jobs, pay depends on a variety of factors, including employer and geographic location as well as credentials and experience of the individual. Reported salaries ranged from $20,414 to $28,294 as of August 2020.
North Carolina Teaching Salaries and Benefits
Planning for the future and managing health concerns are major sources of stress for many Americans. In fact, according to a poll conducted by Aetna, picking the right health insurance for your family is ranked the “second-hardest major life decision” out of a number of issues, while retirement planning ranked first.
These worrisome decisions are made simpler for North Carolina’s teachers, who gain both health insurance options and retirement planning services as part of their employee benefits packages. By offering its teachers comprehensive benefits, North Carolina better positions its educators for future success.
Teacher Salaries in North Carolina by Education
As teachers further their educations and gain experience in the field, they receive pay increases that reflect their dedication and hard work. Salaries may vary between school districts, but the following are some examples of the salaries you can expect in North Carolina:
| Experience | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| At 3 years | $39,349 | $44,338 |
| At 6 years | $41,447 | $46,547 |
| At 9 years | $43,346 | $48,755 |
| At 12 years | $46,674 | $50,962 |
