Fact Check: North Carolina’s Teacher Pay Ranking in the South

North Carolina teachers’ pay has become a focal point in ongoing state budget disputes, with Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton claiming educators in the state are “the lowest paid teachers in the South.” A fact check by WRAL and PolitiFact, however, reveals this assertion doesn’t fully match available data.

The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of North Carolina’s delayed comprehensive state budget. As one of the last states in the nation to pass a budget for the current fiscal year, North Carolina has left teachers waiting for potential salary increases typically included in these annual spending plans.

Clayton’s statement emerged amid growing concerns about teacher compensation, as educators across the state reportedly struggle financially, often using personal funds for classroom supplies. The Democratic Party has called on lawmakers to set aside differences and pass legislation that would boost educator pay statewide.

In North Carolina’s education funding structure, the state government serves as the primary source of teacher salaries. While some wealthier counties like Wake, Durham, and Mecklenburg provide supplemental pay on top of state-determined base salaries, many of North Carolina’s 100 counties lack sufficient resources to offer these additions. Unlike some states where local school boards possess taxing authority, North Carolina’s education funding remains largely dependent on state-level decisions.

When examining Clayton’s claim about North Carolina having the lowest-paid teachers in the South, fact-checkers consulted multiple sources. The state Department of Public Instruction, which oversees public schools and employee salaries, directed investigators to the National Education Association (NEA), the country’s largest teachers’ union, which collects comprehensive salary data across states.

According to NEA figures, North Carolina’s average starting teacher pay does rank lower than neighboring states including Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. However, the data contradicts Clayton’s absolute claim, as Mississippi reports lower figures for both average overall pay and starting salaries.

The investigation uncovered one perspective that partially supports Clayton’s assertion. Public Schools First NC, a local nonprofit organization, analyzes only base pay provided by states without including county supplements. By this narrower metric, North Carolina would have the lowest starting teacher pay among Southern states. However, this approach differs from the NEA’s more comprehensive methodology, which factors in total compensation including supplemental pay that many teachers actually receive.

Based on the preponderance of evidence, particularly the authoritative NEA data showing Mississippi with lower teacher compensation, fact-checkers rated Clayton’s statement “mostly false.” While containing a kernel of truth when looking solely at base pay figures, the claim fails to accurately represent the complete picture of teacher compensation across the South.

The ongoing debate about teacher pay reflects broader tensions over education funding in North Carolina, where teachers and education advocates have long pushed for increased investment in public schools. The stalled budget process has heightened these concerns, as educators continue working without the pay increases that typically accompany new fiscal year appropriations.

This fact-checking effort represents part of an ongoing collaboration between PolitiFact and WRAL to provide North Carolina residents with accurate, nonpartisan information about claims made by public officials and political figures in the state.