NC Budget Boosts Teacher Pay in Rural Counties | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Raleigh, NC     North Carolina lawmakers included a new $100 million fund in the state budget to increase teacher pay supplements in low-wealth counties that are unable to match higher salaries in wealthier counties.

    For the average breakdown for each county click here.

    The new teacher supplement assistance fund will enable less affluent counties in rural areas to compete with urban counties that have a larger tax base to provide teachers with higher supplemental pay.

    Rep. Jeffrey Elmore (R-Wilkes), who is the only active public school teacher in the state legislature, said, "These additional funds will provide rural counties with a new and much-needed tool to help attract and retain high-quality educators in underserved areas."

    Currently, here are the average local teacher supplements for urban counties, which are not included in the fund:

• Buncombe: $7,299
• Durham: $7,009
• Guilford: $4,927
• Mecklenburg: $8,773
• Wake: $8,873

    Yet, the average local teacher supplements in rural counties are much less. Here are a few examples:

• Alleghany: $500
• Ashe: $600
• Caswell: $0
• Cherokee: $0
• Clay: $24
• Greene: $1,000
• Mitchell: $108
• Washington: $672

    Under the new budget, for example, the average annual teacher supplement in Alleghany County will jump from $500 to $3,846 and in Jones County from $2,500 to $6,750. Lawmakers made the new teacher supplement assistance fund recurring so it will be funded at $100 million each year - ensuring long-term support and certainty for the teachers and counties.


    Contact: Jimmy Milstead

    Email: Jimmy.Milstead@ncleg.net