LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky continues to fall in state rankings for average teacher pay.
In 2024, the state fell from 41st to 42nd, according to a recent news release from the Kentucky Education Association. Citing a new report from the National Education Association, the average teacher salary in Kentucky is about $58,300.
That's actually a 3.6% increase year over year, but nationally, the state fell in the rankings.
And experts said the low pay is contributing to teacher shortages. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 80% of U.S. public school districts report difficulty filling open teaching positions — estimated to total around 50,000 nationwide this school year. In Louisville, Jefferson County Public Schools estimates it averages about 300 teacher vacancies annually, though retention rates remain higher than national average.
"It's no secret that educators in Kentucky are not competitively compensated for educating our children, and KEA is deeply concerned about the general assembly's lack of investment in Kentucky educators' pay," KEA President Eddie Campbell said in a news release. "Every school district across the commonwealth faces shortages of teachers, substitutes, bus drivers, custodians, and office staff nearly every day of the school year. Properly investing in our teachers' pay could help remedy this critical shortage and make Kentucky a competitive destination for educators working in our neighboring states. Until then, Kentucky will continue to struggle with staffing our public schools."
In 2024, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called for an 11% raise for teachers to be included in the state budget, but the proposal never gained traction.
Indiana fares a little better, ranking 39th with an average teacher salary of about $58,600.
The nationwide average teacher salary is $72,030.
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