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Bureau shows teacher pay gains under LEARNS but large district variation remains
Summary
Bureau analysis found Arkansas’ 2023 average teacher salary (~$54K) remained below national averages but that 2024 LEARNS Act changes set a $50,000 minimum starting salary; district and charter averages still vary widely, with Fayetteville near $68K and some small districts below $44K in 2023.
Bureau of Legislative Research analysts presented the committee with a multi‑part teacher‑salary report comparing Arkansas to regional and national benchmarks and documenting within‑state variation.
Using 2023 data, the bureau reported Arkansas’ average teacher salary was approximately $54,000 (an increase over 2022) but below the national NEA 2023 average of about $69,000. When adjusting for cost of living (Missouri Cost of Living Data Series index), Arkansas’ ranking improved in regional comparisons but still trailed many states. The bureau emphasized cost‑of‑living adjustments because high nominal salaries in higher‑cost states do not translate to greater purchasing power.
District variation was pronounced: in 2023 public‑district averages ranged from $68,421 (Fayetteville) to $43,895 (Bradford), a gap of roughly $24,500. The bureau noted that a range of factors—experience distribution, degrees held, and use of federal funds—contribute to those differences. Open‑enrollment charter schools also showed variation but a narrower range in 2023.
The bureaus’ report incorporated the 2024 change enacted in the LEARNS Act: a statutory $50,000 minimum starting salary for classroom teachers effective for the 2024 school year. The bureau noted that the 2024 baseline raised statewide minimums and that five districts already set minimums higher than $50,000 in 2024 (Bentonville, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Springdale and Forest City). Prior to 2024, local district salary schedules had larger disparities and 41 of 67 counties with more than one district showed intra‑county minimum salary differences of $1,000 or more.
Members asked for further breakdowns (by region, by school grade bands and for federal funding contributions to teacher pay). The bureau cautioned that average salaries reported exclude federal compensation sources for comparability with national datasets, though federal funds were used in some districts to pay bonuses or supplement salaries in earlier years.
Next steps: the bureau offered appendices with district‑level averages and said it would supply requested regional disaggregations and the 2024 starting‑salary schedules to members on request.
