Kansas teacher salaries fell behind nation, region since 2010

Kansas teacher salaries had the third largest decline in the region between 2010 and 2017, also falling behind the U.S. average for teachers and all workers with comparable educational requirements, according to national data that adjusts for inflation.

This status may change when reports for all states for 2018 are available. According to data from the Kansas State Department of Education teacher salary report and KASB, districts planned to give the largest increases since 2009 last year, following the largest increase in state funding since 2009 approved by the 2017 Legislature. A similar increase was approved for the current school year, 2018-19.

Average Kansas teacher salaries declined by over $4,000 when adjusted for inflation between 2010 and 2017 Details on state teacher salaries are available in the U.S. Digest of Education Statistics.

Among bordering states and other “Plains states,” including Minnesota, Iowa and the Dakotas, only Colorado and Oklahoma had larger declines in teacher salaries. This year, the Oklahoma Legislature approved a special increase in teacher salaries following a state teacher strike.

The U.S. average teacher salary fell by $2,854 from 2010 to 2017. South Dakota, Minnesota and Missouri also had significant but smaller declines. Average teacher salaries increased in Nebraska and, fueled by an energy boom for most of the decade, North Dakota boosted average salaries by over $3,500.

Salaries for all U.S. workers ages 25-34, with a bachelor’s degree or higher, increased $900 over that period when adjusted for inflation. (Data only available through 2016.)

Declining compensation is often cited as a factor in discouraging people from entering or remaining in the teaching profession, resulting in a fewer candidates, unfilled positions and concerns about quality of personnel.