Record Increases to Teacher Pay
Staff Reports
Monday, June 10, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis announced in a release he has committed to approving a historic teacher salary funding increase of $1.25 billion in the budget for Fiscal Year 2024–25.
Since 2019, Florida has invested over $4 billion in teacher pay increases and has raised starting teacher pay by nearly $10,000.
“Florida’s education system is number one in the nation, and we want to make sure good educators are attracted to Florida with attractive compensation,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I am proud to have invested more than $4 billion for teacher pay increases since the beginning of my time in office, and I will continue to push for increased funding for Florida’s teachers.”
For the 2023–2024 school year, Florida’s average starting teacher pay is over $48,000, and the average teacher salary exceeds $54,000.
Before he took office, according to the press release, there was no dedicated, recurring funding for teacher pay increases. Today, Florida has the highest average starting teacher salary in the southeast United States.
Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. said, “Florida continues to attract some of the best educators in the country and it is a testament to the work that (the Governor) has done to support education and raise teacher pay. Florida is the education state and with investments like this, we will continue to lead the nation for years to come.”