Columbus, Ohio – Ohio’s public‑school teachers earned an average of $70,586 during the 2024‑25 school year, placing the state 23rd among the nation’s 50 states, according to the National Education Association. The national average was $74,495.
Starting salaries fall near the bottom
New teachers in Ohio start at an average of $42,222, ranking 46th nationwide. By comparison, the national average starting salary is $48,112. State law sets the base salary for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree at $35,000, a figure that has drawn criticism from educators and candidates alike.
Governor’s race brings teacher pay to the forefront
Both major candidates for Ohio governor are making teacher compensation a central campaign issue. Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy says he wants to reward high‑performing educators with higher pay, arguing that starting salaries should exceed the $38,000‑$40,000 range he previously cited. In a September 19 Facebook video, he called for a raise in starting pay for public‑school teachers.
Democrat Dr. Amy Acton, endorsed by the Ohio Education Association, also supports raising teacher pay across the board. Her campaign spokeswoman Virginia Schaus said Acton will fight to fully fund public schools so districts can increase salaries and retain quality educators. Acton’s husband is a longtime public‑school teacher, and she credits her own education to the public system.
Education leaders demand sustainable careers
Jeff Wensing, president of the Ohio Education Association, warned that Ohio is falling behind both in overall compensation and in starting pay. “Education needs to be a sustainable career where you can support your family and raise a family,” Wensing said. He emphasized the need to attract talented individuals and keep them in the profession.
Wensing also noted that low pay is a factor in teachers leaving the field. “Educators are leaving the profession to find some careers that can help their families out better and make their ends meet a little bit better,” he explained.
Legislative proposals aim to raise the floor
One bill before the Ohio Legislature would raise the state’s minimum teacher salary to $50,000. House Bill 191, introduced in 2025 by Democratic state representatives Joe Miller and Michele Grim, has received a committee hearing but has not yet been voted on. If the measure does not pass before the current two‑year session ends in December, it will have to be reintroduced.
Ohio also ranks among 32 states that do not provide additional pay for teachers working in hard‑to‑staff subjects or schools. The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) recommends a salary supplement of at least 7.5% for teachers in high‑need assignments, such as special education, ESL, and high‑school math and science.
Heather Peske, president of the NCTQ, said differentiated pay can improve retention. “We see that when states are offering differentiated pay — either based on shortages and vacancies in subjects, or based on differentiation by performance — the first impact is higher retention of teachers,” she said.
Broader staffing challenges
Ohio schools are confronting significant staffing gaps. In 2025, one out of every eight teaching positions was either vacant or filled by an underqualified educator, according to the same NEA report. The overall teacher payroll for the state was estimated at roughly $7 billion for the 2024‑25 school year.
Both candidates argue that better pay is essential to recruiting and retaining teachers, especially in rural districts and high‑poverty communities where vacancies are most acute.
What’s next for Ohio’s teachers?
As the gubernatorial race heats up, Ohio’s educators and families will be watching closely to see which candidate’s plan translates into legislative action. The debate over teacher compensation is likely to remain a pivotal issue in the November election, with potential implications for school funding, staffing stability, and the quality of education for Ohio’s children.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
