The National Education Association recently released its annual teacher pay report, and Arizona is lagging behind the national average.
By the numbers: The average teacher salary in Arizona is $64,291 — 31st in the country — compared to the national average of $74,495, per the report.
First-time teachers here earn an average of $44,869 compared to $48,112 nationally, ranking Arizona 39th.
Threat level: Teacher salaries have risen over the past decade but haven't kept up with inflation, meaning educators are earning 5% less on average than they were a decade ago, per the NEA.
What they're saying: Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne told Axios teachers are underpaid and need a raise.
He said a renewed Proposition 123 is an ideal way to increase salaries.
Yes, but: That seems unlikely to move forward this year amid intraparty Republican disagreements over what should be included in a proposed renewal of the expired education funding measure.
