Raising the Minimum Wage
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RESPECT: At least $45K annually for every teacher

Keeping pace with other Pennsylvanians

Teachers who earn less than $45,000 have a median salary that is nearly 13 percent less than Pennsylvanians with bachelor’s degrees statewide. Teachers who earn less than $45,000 with master’s degrees have median salaries 33 percent lower than Pennsylvanians with master’s degrees statewide.

Stopping the teacher shortage

There is a growing demand for teachers in Pennsylvania, and fewer young people are entering the profession. The number of college students completing Pennsylvania teacher prep programs dropped by 32 percent between 2013-14 and 2017-18. And the number of Instructional I certificates issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education dropped by 74 percent between 2012-13 and 2018-19.

Increasing the minimum teacher salary can help stop this growing teacher shortage. 

Who does this impact?

  • There are 199 school districts, intermediate units, and career and technical centers, in Pennsylvania where a total of 2,660 experienced educators are earning less than $45,000.
  • 77 percent are women.
  • 478 make less than $40,000.
  • 45 percent have more than three years of experience, 15 percent have more than six years of experience, and 24 percent have master’s degrees.

Keeping up with changes in the education profession

A lot has changed in the education profession since 1989.

  • There has been a 23 percent increase in the number of Pennsylvania students receiving special education services.
  • Since 1987, the percentage of Pennsylvania students needing English as a Second Language services more than tripled and since 1989, the percentage of Pennsylvania students with special needs who spend most of their time in regular education classrooms has nearly doubled.
  • Just as important, the demands of professional development for teachers has increased dramatically. Now, teachers need 180 hours or six credits of college-level coursework to keep their certificates current.

Share Your Story

This is a top priority for PSEA because no teacher or college faculty member — people in our most challenging and important professions who have earned bachelor’s and, in many cases, master’s degrees — should be paid less than other Pennsylvanians. The people who educate our children shouldn’t struggle to make ends meet. And the best way to explain this to lawmakers is to tell the stories of real people who have real financial struggles because Pennsylvania’s minimum teacher and faculty salaries are too low. If you have a story, click to share it below — and PSEA will help you tell it.

Hear their stories

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