Aug 23, 2022 - Business
Ohio teachers make 14.4% less than other college grads
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Although Columbus' striking teachers say compensation isn't their top issue at the bargaining table, new data illustrates the widening pay gap between Buckeye State educators and their college-educated peers.
Why it matters: Low pay is one reason why school districts nationwide are struggling to find teachers.
Details: Ohio teachers make 14.4% less than other college graduates here, per the Economic Policy Institute.
The big picture: The disparity is even wider on the national level, which saw a record-high 23.5% gap in 2021.
- The gap was just 6% in 1996. But while other college-educated career salaries have risen over the past four decades, teachers' salaries have remained flat.
Zoom in: A first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree earns about $46,000 in Columbus, per the union's expired contract.
- That salary maxes out at $91,000 after 31 years.
- The district's average teacher salary was about $75,000 in 2021, per Ohio Department of Education data — $9,000 above the state average for teachers, but less than some area districts, including Dublin, Hilliard and Worthington.