How much money are Arizona teachers being paid?
On Thursday, Gov. Doug Ducey announced a plan to raise teachers' salaries by 20 percent by 2020. The announcement comes after more than a month of protests at the state Capitol and at schools across Arizona from teachers demanding higher pay.
The statewide average teacher salary for fiscal year 2017 was $48,372, according to data obtained from the Arizona Auditor General.
Take a look at the map below for average pre-tax salary figures for school districts across the state.
Teacher salaries vary widely by district, with teachers in the highest-paid district making 70 percent more than the lowest-paid district.
It should be noted that the 'average teacher salary' statistic classifies a teacher as "any teachers working directly with students in an instructional capacity," according to officials.
The Auditor General's office utilizes data obtained directly from school districts and other sources, including the Arizona Department of Education, for their annual report. Statistics are then typically calculated from this data by the Auditor General's office.
Highest Maricopa county average teacher salaries (and what they would be with a 20 percent raise):
- Phoenix Union High School District- $62,782 ($75,338)
- Arlington Elementary School District- $59,751 ($71,701)
- Glendale Union High School District- $58,687 ($70,424)
- Alhambra Elementary School District- $58,362 ($70,034)
- Cartwright Elementary School District- $57,515 ($69,018)
Lowest Maricopa county average teacher salaries (and what they would be with a 20 percent raise):
- Gila Bend Unified School District- $37,012 ($44,414)
- Riverside Elementary School District- $37,360 ($44,832)
- Buckeye Elementary School District- $37,778 ($45,334)
- Littleton Elementary School District- $38,911 ($46,693)
- Creighton Elementary School District- $40,106 ($48,127)
Arizona teachers are among the lowest paid in the nation. According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Adjusted for local cost of living, federal figures show elementary teachers actually rank 49th in earnings and high school teachers 48th.
This Auditor General's data does not include charter schools, according to officials.
