Teacher Salary
Schedules

2026-27 · State salary guide

North Carolina teacher salary schedules 2026-27

Southeast landscape with a school, trees and warm sunlight.
Average salary
$60,323NEA 2024-25
Starting salary
$44,952NEA 2024-25
State minimum
$48,000See state terms
Districts sourced
8Official schedules

North Carolina teachers averaged $60,323 in 2024-25 per NEA, and the average starting salary was $44,952.

North Carolina teachers averaged $60,323 in 2024-25 per NEA, and the average starting salary was $44,952. The state sets one salary schedule for every district; for 2026-27 it starts at $48,000 for a new teacher with a bachelor's degree (up from $41,000) and tops out at $59,000 after 25 years, and districts add a local supplement on top. Across the seven large districts with posted 2026-27 schedules, bachelor's starting pay with supplements runs from $52,341 (Gaston) to $55,750 (Durham), and the top of the master's lane from $71,130 (Gaston) to $81,072 (Wake); Charlotte-Mecklenburg has only posted its 2025-26 schedule. Guilford, Johnston and Cabarrus post no current schedule.

Last verified · View sources

Compare district salaries

Annual base pay, by education level. Years and contract terms can differ; open each schedule before comparing.

Select a column heading to sort. Scroll the table horizontally for more columns. — means not supplied.

North Carolina district salary comparison
Official source
Wake County Public School SystemCary2026-27$55,340$61,102$73,399$81,072—Schedule ↗ for Wake County Public School System
Charlotte-Mecklenburg SchoolsCharlotte2025-26$48,943$54,083$70,573$77,972$80,502Schedule ↗ for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County SchoolsWinston-Salem2026-27$54,400$59,500$70,520$77,420$79,950Schedule ↗ for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
Cumberland County SchoolsFayetteville2026-27$53,391$58,568$73,212$80,371—Schedule ↗ for Cumberland County Schools
Union County Public SchoolsMonroe2026-27$55,300$61,600$67,910$75,310—Schedule ↗ for Union County Public Schools
Gaston County SchoolsGastonia2026-27$52,341$57,447$64,902$71,130—Schedule ↗ for Gaston County Schools
Durham Public SchoolsDurham2026-27$55,750$61,050$71,400$78,280$81,210Schedule ↗ for Durham Public Schools
New Hanover County SchoolsWilmington2026-27$55,000$59,800$69,000$74,900—Schedule ↗ for New Hanover County Schools

8 districts shown

The district picture

Starting pay to top pay

Largest districts included in this guide, sorted by published top pay. Starting pay is the bachelor’s entry rate; top pay is the highest published maximum across degree lanes.

━ Bachelor’s start▨ Top pay · all degree lanes
Durham Public Schools2026-27

BA start $55,750

Top $81,210

Wake County Public School System2026-27

BA start $55,340

Top $81,072

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools2025-26

BA start $48,943

Top $80,502

Cumberland County Schools2026-27

BA start $53,391

Top $80,371

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools2026-27

BA start $54,400

Top $79,950

Union County Public Schools2026-27

BA start $55,300

Top $75,310

New Hanover County Schools2026-27

BA start $55,000

Top $74,900

Gaston County Schools2026-27

BA start $52,341

Top $71,130

Guilford County SchoolsYear not published

Schedule not published

Johnston County Public SchoolsYear not published

Schedule not published

Cabarrus County SchoolsYear not published

Schedule not published

Annual base salary on a shared zero-based scale. Top pay can require advanced qualifications and many years of service. Missing values are not zero.
View district chart data
Published district pay
DistrictYearBA startTop pay
Durham Public Schools2026-27$55,750$81,210
Wake County Public School System2026-27$55,340$81,072
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools2025-26$48,943$80,502
Cumberland County Schools2026-27$53,391$80,371
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools2026-27$54,400$79,950
Union County Public Schools2026-27$55,300$75,310
New Hanover County Schools2026-27$55,000$74,900
Gaston County Schools2026-27$52,341$71,130
Guilford County SchoolsNot publishedNot publishedNot published
Johnston County Public SchoolsNot publishedNot publishedNot published
Cabarrus County SchoolsNot publishedNot publishedNot published

Experience & progression

How pay grows by step

Bachelor’s lane · 5 districts with numeric step data

$0k$20k$40k$60k$80k010203040Experience stepWake County Public School System: step 0, $55,340Wake County Public School System: step 1, $55,596Wake County Public School System: step 2, $56,056Wake County Public School System: step 3, $56,373Wake County Public School System: step 4, $56,943Wake County Public School System: step 5, $57,448Wake County Public School System: step 6, $58,161Wake County Public School System: step 7, $58,667Wake County Public School System: step 8, $59,380Wake County Public School System: step 9, $60,002Wake County Public School System: step 10, $61,910Wake County Public School System: step 11, $62,426Wake County Public School System: step 12, $63,256Wake County Public School System: step 13, $63,772Wake County Public School System: step 14, $65,380Wake County Public School System: step 15, $66,506Wake County Public School System: step 16, $66,937Wake County Public School System: step 17, $67,099Wake County Public School System: step 18, $67,314Wake County Public School System: step 19, $67,594Wake County Public School System: step 20, $67,815Wake County Public School System: step 21, $67,926Wake County Public School System: step 22, $68,037Wake County Public School System: step 23, $68,336Wake County Public School System: step 24, $68,635Wake County Public School System: step 25, $70,827Wake County Public School System: step 26, $71,429Wake County Public School System: step 27, $71,884Wake County Public School System: step 28, $72,338Wake County Public School System: step 29, $72,793Wake County Public School System: step 30, $73,096Wake County Public School System: step 31, $73,399Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 0, $48,943Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 1, $49,693Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 2, $50,456Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 3, $51,347Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 4, $52,238Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 5, $53,140Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 6, $54,280Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 7, $55,360Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 8, $56,430Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 9, $57,510Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 10, $58,590Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 11, $59,660Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 12, $60,740Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 13, $61,810Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 14, $62,890Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 15, $64,235Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 16, $64,631Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 17, $64,801Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 18, $64,971Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 19, $65,141Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 20, $65,311Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 21, $65,481Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 22, $65,651Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 23, $65,873Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 24, $66,095Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 25, $68,729Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 26, $69,023Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 27, $69,317Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 28, $69,611Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 29, $69,905Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 30, $70,199Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: step 31, $70,573Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 0, $54,400Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 1, $54,650Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 2, $54,970Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 3, $55,290Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 4, $55,610Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 5, $56,190Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 6, $56,760Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 7, $57,330Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 8, $57,910Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 9, $58,480Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 10, $60,200Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 11, $60,790Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 12, $61,440Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 13, $62,030Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 14, $63,140Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 15, $64,360Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 16, $64,460Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 17, $64,580Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 18, $64,690Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 19, $64,780Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 20, $64,880Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 21, $64,990Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 22, $65,140Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 23, $65,250Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 24, $65,370Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 25, $67,660Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 26, $67,790Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 27, $68,090Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 28, $68,230Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 29, $68,350Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 30, $68,480Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 31, $68,620Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 32, $68,780Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 33, $68,930Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 34, $69,350Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 35, $69,520Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 36, $69,670Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 37, $69,850Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 38, $70,030Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 39, $70,520Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: step 40, $70,520Cumberland County Schools: step 0, $53,391Cumberland County Schools: step 1, $53,731Cumberland County Schools: step 2, $54,071Cumberland County Schools: step 3, $54,411Cumberland County Schools: step 4, $54,751Cumberland County Schools: step 5, $55,341Cumberland County Schools: step 6, $55,981Cumberland County Schools: step 7, $56,607Cumberland County Schools: step 8, $57,235Cumberland County Schools: step 9, $57,941Cumberland County Schools: step 10, $60,191Cumberland County Schools: step 11, $60,863Cumberland County Schools: step 12, $61,539Cumberland County Schools: step 13, $62,215Cumberland County Schools: step 14, $63,415Cumberland County Schools: step 15, $65,178Cumberland County Schools: step 16, $65,313Cumberland County Schools: step 17, $65,447Cumberland County Schools: step 18, $65,582Cumberland County Schools: step 19, $65,717Cumberland County Schools: step 20, $66,525Cumberland County Schools: step 21, $66,794Cumberland County Schools: step 22, $67,064Cumberland County Schools: step 23, $67,333Cumberland County Schools: step 24, $67,603Cumberland County Schools: step 25, $71,813Cumberland County Schools: step 26, $72,093Cumberland County Schools: step 27, $72,373Cumberland County Schools: step 28, $72,652Cumberland County Schools: step 29, $72,932Cumberland County Schools: step 30, $73,212Union County Public Schools: step 0, $55,300Union County Public Schools: step 1, $55,550Union County Public Schools: step 2, $55,800Union County Public Schools: step 3, $56,050Union County Public Schools: step 4, $56,300Union County Public Schools: step 5, $56,800Union County Public Schools: step 6, $57,300Union County Public Schools: step 7, $57,800Union County Public Schools: step 8, $58,300Union County Public Schools: step 9, $58,800Union County Public Schools: step 10, $60,440Union County Public Schools: step 11, $61,020Union County Public Schools: step 12, $61,600Union County Public Schools: step 13, $62,180Union County Public Schools: step 14, $63,280Union County Public Schools: step 15, $64,470Union County Public Schools: step 16, $64,540Union County Public Schools: step 17, $64,610Union County Public Schools: step 18, $64,680Union County Public Schools: step 19, $64,750Union County Public Schools: step 20, $64,820Union County Public Schools: step 21, $64,890Union County Public Schools: step 22, $64,960Union County Public Schools: step 23, $65,030Union County Public Schools: step 24, $65,100Union County Public Schools: step 25, $67,350Union County Public Schools: step 26, $67,420Union County Public Schools: step 27, $67,490Union County Public Schools: step 28, $67,560Union County Public Schools: step 29, $67,630Union County Public Schools: step 30, $67,700Union County Public Schools: step 31, $67,770Union County Public Schools: step 32, $67,840Union County Public Schools: step 33, $67,910Union County Public Schools: step 34, $67,910Union County Public Schools: step 35, $67,910
  • Wake County Public School System2026-27
  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools2025-26
  • Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools2026-27
  • Cumberland County Schools2026-27
  • Union County Public Schools2026-27
Lines connect published observations, not estimated salaries for missing steps. A step is not always a year of service. District placement rules and schedule years vary.
View step progression data
Bachelor’s lane by published step
DistrictStepAnnual pay
Wake County Public School System0$55,340
Wake County Public School System1$55,596
Wake County Public School System2$56,056
Wake County Public School System3$56,373
Wake County Public School System4$56,943
Wake County Public School System5$57,448
Wake County Public School System6$58,161
Wake County Public School System7$58,667
Wake County Public School System8$59,380
Wake County Public School System9$60,002
Wake County Public School System10$61,910
Wake County Public School System11$62,426
Wake County Public School System12$63,256
Wake County Public School System13$63,772
Wake County Public School System14$65,380
Wake County Public School System15$66,506
Wake County Public School System16$66,937
Wake County Public School System17$67,099
Wake County Public School System18$67,314
Wake County Public School System19$67,594
Wake County Public School System20$67,815
Wake County Public School System21$67,926
Wake County Public School System22$68,037
Wake County Public School System23$68,336
Wake County Public School System24$68,635
Wake County Public School System25$70,827
Wake County Public School System26$71,429
Wake County Public School System27$71,884
Wake County Public School System28$72,338
Wake County Public School System29$72,793
Wake County Public School System30$73,096
Wake County Public School System31$73,399
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools0$48,943
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools1$49,693
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools2$50,456
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools3$51,347
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools4$52,238
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools5$53,140
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools6$54,280
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools7$55,360
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools8$56,430
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools9$57,510
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools10$58,590
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools11$59,660
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools12$60,740
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools13$61,810
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools14$62,890
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools15$64,235
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools16$64,631
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools17$64,801
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools18$64,971
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools19$65,141
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools20$65,311
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools21$65,481
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools22$65,651
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools23$65,873
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools24$66,095
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools25$68,729
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools26$69,023
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools27$69,317
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools28$69,611
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools29$69,905
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools30$70,199
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools31$70,573
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools0$54,400
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools1$54,650
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools2$54,970
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools3$55,290
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools4$55,610
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools5$56,190
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools6$56,760
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools7$57,330
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools8$57,910
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools9$58,480
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools10$60,200
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools11$60,790
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools12$61,440
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools13$62,030
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools14$63,140
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools15$64,360
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools16$64,460
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools17$64,580
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools18$64,690
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools19$64,780
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools20$64,880
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools21$64,990
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools22$65,140
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools23$65,250
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools24$65,370
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools25$67,660
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools26$67,790
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools27$68,090
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools28$68,230
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools29$68,350
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools30$68,480
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools31$68,620
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools32$68,780
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools33$68,930
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools34$69,350
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools35$69,520
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools36$69,670
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools37$69,850
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools38$70,030
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools39$70,520
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools40$70,520
Cumberland County Schools0$53,391
Cumberland County Schools1$53,731
Cumberland County Schools2$54,071
Cumberland County Schools3$54,411
Cumberland County Schools4$54,751
Cumberland County Schools5$55,341
Cumberland County Schools6$55,981
Cumberland County Schools7$56,607
Cumberland County Schools8$57,235
Cumberland County Schools9$57,941
Cumberland County Schools10$60,191
Cumberland County Schools11$60,863
Cumberland County Schools12$61,539
Cumberland County Schools13$62,215
Cumberland County Schools14$63,415
Cumberland County Schools15$65,178
Cumberland County Schools16$65,313
Cumberland County Schools17$65,447
Cumberland County Schools18$65,582
Cumberland County Schools19$65,717
Cumberland County Schools20$66,525
Cumberland County Schools21$66,794
Cumberland County Schools22$67,064
Cumberland County Schools23$67,333
Cumberland County Schools24$67,603
Cumberland County Schools25$71,813
Cumberland County Schools26$72,093
Cumberland County Schools27$72,373
Cumberland County Schools28$72,652
Cumberland County Schools29$72,932
Cumberland County Schools30$73,212
Union County Public Schools0$55,300
Union County Public Schools1$55,550
Union County Public Schools2$55,800
Union County Public Schools3$56,050
Union County Public Schools4$56,300
Union County Public Schools5$56,800
Union County Public Schools6$57,300
Union County Public Schools7$57,800
Union County Public Schools8$58,300
Union County Public Schools9$58,800
Union County Public Schools10$60,440
Union County Public Schools11$61,020
Union County Public Schools12$61,600
Union County Public Schools13$62,180
Union County Public Schools14$63,280
Union County Public Schools15$64,470
Union County Public Schools16$64,540
Union County Public Schools17$64,610
Union County Public Schools18$64,680
Union County Public Schools19$64,750
Union County Public Schools20$64,820
Union County Public Schools21$64,890
Union County Public Schools22$64,960
Union County Public Schools23$65,030
Union County Public Schools24$65,100
Union County Public Schools25$67,350
Union County Public Schools26$67,420
Union County Public Schools27$67,490
Union County Public Schools28$67,560
Union County Public Schools29$67,630
Union County Public Schools30$67,700
Union County Public Schools31$67,770
Union County Public Schools32$67,840
Union County Public Schools33$67,910
Union County Public Schools34$67,910
Union County Public Schools35$67,910

The wider picture

Salary in context

North Carolina average$60,323
NEA 2024-25 · Source
State minimum$48,000
See state minimum terms below · Source
National average$74,495
Reporting year not published · Source
Average pay describes the workforce; a minimum is a floor subject to state rules. These measures can cover different years and are not equivalent starting offers.
View salary context data
State and national salary measures
MeasureAmountContext
North Carolina average$60,323NEA 2024-25
State minimum$48,000See state minimum terms below
National average$74,495Reporting year not published

State minimum salary

$48,000

NC DPI Fiscal Year 2026-2027 State Salary Schedules (version July 1, 2026, per Session Law 2026-41): the bachelor's teacher schedule runs $48,000 (10-month annual) at 0 years to $56,820 at 15-24 years and $59,000 at 25+; master's $52,800 to $64,900; advanced and doctorate lanes are higher, and NBPTS certification adds 12%. This is a statewide schedule, not just a floor: every district pays it and adds its own local supplement. SL 2026-41 gave an average 8% teacher raise; the 2025-26 schedule started at $41,000. NEA average salary is FY 2024-25 (Rankings & Estimates, August 2026); starting salary is the NEA Teacher Salary Benchmark, FY 2024-25.

Read the state minimum source ↗

Before you compare offers

Match the school year, degree lane and credited experience. The published maximum is not a promise of starting placement. Confirm contract days, supplements and eligibility in each district’s official schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find North Carolina district salary schedules?

Use the district comparison table on this page to open a district guide and its official salary schedule. Each source is linked with a verification date.

Does a master’s degree change the salary?

Check the master’s lane in the district’s published schedule. Degree supplements and placement rules vary; a missing value here does not mean there is no additional pay.

Sources and last checked

Last verified

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