Mississippi ranks third-lowest in teacher pay after cost-of-living adjustments

Mississippi’s average teacher salary is the third-lowest in the country after adjusting for cost of living, according to recent data. During the 2023-2024 school year, about 43% of the state’s K-12 budget was allocated to teacher compensation, the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor reported.

State Auditor Shad White has advocated for increased funding, suggesting that at least 50% of every dollar spent on education go toward teacher salaries. White believes this change would make Mississippi public school teachers some of the highest paid in the nation.

White emphasized the importance of investing in educators to improve the state’s education system. He noted that Mississippi has the potential to be a leader in education if it prioritizes its teachers and allocates sufficient resources.

Source: Original Article