Chesterfield proposes 3% pay increases, step boosts and targeted scale changes in FY26 budget

Chesterfield County Public Schools officials on Feb. 25 outlined a FY26 compensation proposal that would add a roughly 3% total increase for most staff by combining a 2% market adjustment with a step increase tied to successful experience.

The proposal, presented by Dr. Huff, covers teacher pay, instructional assistants, student support services (speech/OT/PT, psychologists, social workers), school security officers and graded-range hourly positions. The superintendent's proposed budget for FY26 includes the compensation package, targeted step extensions for several scales and continuation of existing bonus programs.

Dr. Huff said the system proposes to raise teacher starting pay to $55,047 and to combine a 2% market adjustment with a step increase so experienced teachers receive about a 3% total increase. "This step ... makes sure to maintain some distance there, for successful experience," Dr. Huff said, adding the teacher scale would continue to include lanes for bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate credentials.

Why it matters: Officials said steps plus the market adjustment are intended to avoid pay compression — where new teachers earn nearly the same as more experienced teachers — and to…