Teachers - Salary
Date posted: 08/06/2009
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What this chart shows: Average Teacher Salary in Colorado and Larimer County School Districts, 2000-01 to 2008-09
Data Source: Colorado Department of Education
What these data tell us:
Between 2000-01 and 2008-09, average salaries in Park School District had the highest percentage increase (27.6%) followed by Poudre (22.6%) and Thompson (18.9%). Park School District salaries were consistently lower than those in the other Larimer County districts and the State between 2000-01 and 2005-06. Between 2005-06 and 2007-08, the average teacher salary in Colorado increased by 8.9%. During this time, Thompson School District salaries increased less than the state average (2.5%), Poudre District increased by 7.3%, and Park School District salaries increased by 18.2%.
Teachers' base salaries are tied to two factors: years of experience and additional education. Elementary school teachers in Larimer County had the highest average salaries, with middle school and high school teachers following respectively. According to district officials, elementary school teachers tend to remain in their positions longer than other teachers. This creates more years of experience, thus increasing the base salary average.
There was a slight dip in the average salaries at both Park and Poudre School Districts between 2002-03 and 2003-04 school years. Officials attribute this to retiring teachers being replaced by first year teachers at a lower rate of pay. The large increase in salaries seen in Park School District between 2005-06 and 2006-07 was due to an effort by the Park superintendent to recruit and retain educators in that district.
According to officials at the Thompson School District, two reasons for the lower average teacher salaries are the number of relatively new teachers who are paid less, and the decision several years ago to phase out the severance package for retiring teachers. At that time the district adopted two salary schedules: one for newly hired teachers at a higher average salary but without a severance package at retirement, and another, with lower average salaries but with a grandfathered severance package.
Additional Information:
On Compass-
- ACT Scores
- CSAP scores
- Dropout Rates
- Enrollment - K-12
- Enrollment - Public, Home-Based, and Non-Public Schools
- Enrollment - Special Education
- Funding per Pupil
- High School Graduation Rates
- Pupil /Teacher Ratio
- Teachers - Race/Ethnicity & Gender
Outside Compass -
- American Federation of Teachers
- Colorado Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics
- National Education Association
- Park School District
- Poudre School District
- Thompson School District
Standards or Targets-
American Federation of Teachers - this site contains surveys and analyses of teacher salary trends.
Average Teacher Salary in Colorado & Larimer County School Districts
|
School Year |
Colorado |
Park |
Poudre |
Thompson |
|
2000-01 |
$39,184 | $35,421 | $39,670 | $38,644 |
|
2001-02 |
$40,659 | $36,882 | $40,843 | $40,518 |
|
2002-03 |
$42,680 | $39,638 | $42,328 | $42,515 |
|
2003-04 |
$43,330 | $39,333 | $42,244 | $43,266 |
|
2004-05 |
$43,965 | $40,312 | $43,722 | $43,848 |
|
2005-06 |
$43,456 | $39,897 | $44,148 | $43,763 |
|
2006-07 |
$45,831 | $46,793 | $45,529 | $44,031 |
|
2007-08 |
$47,493 | $47,143 | $47,380 | $44,873 |
|
2008-09 |
$48,485 | $45,208 | $48,639 | $45,951 |