Tennessee ranks 38th in the nation for average teacher pay, according to a report by the National Education Association.

An analysis of teacher salaries across all 50 states and the District of Columbia from the association, which is the largest teachers union in the nation, showed an average teacher salary of $72,030 in 2023-24. In Tennessee, the average was $58,630. California topped the list at $101,084, while Mississippi was the lowest at $53,704.

While Tennessee remains relatively low on the list, it rose from 44th the year before . That may be due in part to a state law enacted in 2023 to raise the minimum salary for all teachers to $50,000 by 2026. The previous minimum was set at $35,000. According to the report, the average starting salary in Tennessee was $44,897 in 2023-24, c

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