From FY 2016 to FY 2024, lawmakers approved $799 million in recurring increases for teacher pay. However, during this period, the average salary growth for Tennessee teachers did not keep pace with inflation.
After adjusting for inflation, teachers’ average pay in the 2021-2022 school year was approximately 14% lower than it was a dozen years earlier. In comparison, Tennessee’s neighboring states experienced similar declines, while median earnings for Tennessee workers with bachelor’s degrees saw a 2% real growth.
