The Teacher Pay Penalty Remained High in 2025

Hoboken 1960's (colorized)

 Teachers earned 25.2% less than  comparable college graduates in 2025, according to a new report with Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR). This decades-long teacher pay penalty has taken a heavy toll on public education.

Teacher pay has fallen further and further behind. After accounting for inflation, public school teachers' weekly wages FELL 6.2% over the past three decades, while wages for other college graduates rose 28.8% over the same period.

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Teachers were paid less than other college graduates in every state, with relative teacher pay gaps ranging from 10.4% in Rhode Island to 40.7% in Colorado. The teacher pay penalty was at least 25% in 25 states.