Florida teachers remain at the bottom nationwide when it comes to pay, according to the latest data from the National Education Association. The report shows the state ranks 50th in the country, with an average salary just over $56,000, roughly $18,000 below the national average.
Discussing the report on The Ryan Gorman Show, news anchor Nathalie Rodriguez emphasized the severity of the issue, saying, “Florida teachers are still sitting at the bottom of the class when it comes to pay.” She added that the current salary level is “not even a living wage,” pointing to the growing financial strain educators are facing.
The numbers highlight a worsening trend. Rodriguez noted that real wages have “dropped 12% over the last decade instead of going up,” leaving Florida in last place for the third year in a row. While state leaders continue to promise more funding, she said teachers feel “it’s still not enough to catch up.”
Ryan Gorman pointed to a disconnect between starting salaries and overall earnings. “We’ve actually put some money towards starting teacher salaries,” he said, noting Florida ranked 16th in 2023 and 2024 before slipping to 19th in the latest report. However, average salaries continue to lag, with Gorman adding, “That’s awful. I mean, we have got to fix that in this state.”
Co-host Dana McKay highlighted frustration among veteran educators, explaining, “They raised it, but then the teachers who have been there for a while are like, ‘Well, what about us? We should get a bump too.’” The imbalance has contributed to ongoing dissatisfaction across the profession.
Low pay is also fueling broader challenges in the education system. Gorman noted, “You wonder why there are teacher shortages and why there’s so much turnover,” linking compensation directly to staffing issues across Florida schools.
As lawmakers prepare to revisit education funding, the debate over teacher pay is expected to remain front and center.
Listen to the full episode of The Ryan Gorman Show for more insight, including the connection between rising costs of living and increased reliance on assistance programs.