Survey reveals Georgians believe teachers should be paid more
FILE - Children listen to their teacher as they sit in a classroom on the first day of the start of the school year on Sept. 2, 2019. (Photo by MARTIN BUREAU/AFP via Getty Images)
ATLANTA - A new survey reveals that Georgians believe teachers in the state are significantly underpaid, with respondents suggesting educators should earn nearly $30,000 more than they currently do.
What we know:
According to the National Education Association, as of May 2024, the average salary for Georgia teachers was approximately $64,000 per year.
However, a report by online education company Test Prep Insight found that survey participants believe that amount falls far short of what teachers should be earning.
The $29,000 pay gap identified in the survey is the largest among all Southern states.
Alabamians believe teachers should be paid $11,870 more and Floridians believe teachers should be paid $22,276 more.
Dig deeper:
Beyond teachers, the survey also highlighted concerns over wages for other essential workers, including postal employees, emergency medical technicians, and public transportation drivers.
Click here to see the full results of the survey.