Who cares about teacher salaries? Teachers do, of course. So do potential teachers. And every time a school district meets over the bargaining table to determine next year’s teacher salaries, school board members, parents, and taxpayers care as well. With more than 300,000 teachers in California, teacher compensation is a huge budgetary decision. It is also a major—although not singular—factor in recruiting and retaining a qualified teacher workforce.

But just how well are California’s teachers compensated? This 16-page report addresses that question by examining teacher salary data from a variety of sources. Definitive answers are difficult, however. Some data show California teacher salaries are above the national average, but when differences in cost of living are taken into account, a teacher’s pay in California simply doesn’t buy as much as in most other states. Comparing California teacher salaries with those for other occupations provides a different picture. In addition, there are wide variations within California based on district size, extent of urbanization, and geographic region. Further influencing compensation are a vast assortment of paid benefits, including training and education programs, health care, and retirement plans.

While the data should be interpreted with caution, our report indicates that California’s teacher salaries are not competitive on a variety of measures. Is raising all teacher salaries the answer? What about differential pay for those willing to teach high-demand subjects or in hard-to-staff districts? Is there a place for pay-for-performance or merit pay? And how do factors other than money—such as professional support and working conditions—influence teachers’ employment decisions? The report concludes with a brief exploration of these questions.

EdSource thanks the Walter & Elise Haas Fund for underwriting the research and development of this report.