Teacher and school staff pay

How much teachers, college instructors, paraprofessionals and other school staff are paid, including benefits, pensions and bargaining rights, the conditions they work under, and what role Washington plays in it.

Raise pay for teachers and other educators

27 members
Daniel Biss
House · IL-9 · Democrat
“I’m the product of public schools and a proud public school parent — and I’ll fight in Congress to ensure that every kid in America has access to a high quality public education, that our teachers are paid fairly, and that every young adult that wants one has a shot at a higher education they can afford.”
View on their website ↗
“Ensuring Teachers Get the Compensation They Deserve: It’s well past time that we pay our public school teachers like the heroes they are. We can make federal funds available to encourage states to raise teacher pay. We can also increase pay for our teachers by ensuring every teacher in the country can join a union and collectively bargain over their wages and benefits. I’ll also work to protect and expand public service loan forgiveness for our teachers. Finally, teachers shouldn’t be on the hook for the school supplies they buy to help our children learn. We need to increase the tax deduction for school supplies — and adjust it for inflation.”
View on their website ↗
Adrian Boafo
House · MD-5 · Democrat
“Improve our K-12 public schools by paying our teachers more. Improve the quality of K–12 public education by investing in schools, increasing teacher pay, and expanding programs that help students succeed.”
View on their website ↗
“Co-sponsored legislation to address Maryland’s teacher shortage by growing a pipeline of homegrown educators, increasing diversity in the profession, and raising teacher pay.”
View on their website ↗
Luke Bronin
House · CT-1 · Democrat
“We should invest more in people, with smaller class sizes, stronger teacher training and recruitment, better teacher pay.”
View on their website ↗
Darializa Avila Chevalier
House · NY-13 · Democrat
“Increase wages for early childhood educators”
View on their website ↗
“Increase wages and improve working conditions for all educators and school staff”
View on their website ↗
Rebecca Cooke
House · WI-3 · Democrat
“Address our teacher shortage crisis by offering pay increases and signing bonuses. Work with state legislators to advocate for removing the cost of living pay increases, but having salary commensurate with experience in the classroom and increased each year by industry standard set by unions, not 1-2% annually.”
View on their website ↗
Zach Dembo
House · KY-6 · Democrat
“In Congress, I’ll fight to fully fund our public schools and jobs training programs, fairly pay our teachers and educators, and make sure our universities have the research funding they need to stay best-in-class institutions. We also need to make sure that there is robust funding for apprenticeship and job training programs, since not every job requires a college degree and we want to be sure folks can flourish whether or not they go to college.”
View on their website ↗
Sam Forstag
House · MT-1 · Democrat
“Increase teacher pay by investing in federal matching grants to make sure that every public school teacher, educational support staff, and early educator makes a living wage.”
View on their website ↗
Patty García
House · IL-4 · Democrat
“Raising teacher pay”
View on their website ↗
Sarah Trone Garriott
House · IA-3 · Democrat
“I’ll push to raise teacher pay, expand early childhood education, and make community college and trade programs available to all.”
View on their website ↗
Adam Hamawy
House · NJ-12 · Democrat
“Aumentar el salario de los maestros Los maestros y el personal de apoyo educativo hacen funcionar nuestras escuelas y son pilares de nuestras comunidades. Deberíamos reclutar y retener al mejor talento para enseñar a nuestros hijos. Algunos estados han aprobado pisos salariales más altos para maestros – deberíamos llevar esa idea al nivel federal.”

In Spanish on their site.

View on their website ↗
Show the other 17 members
Frederick Haynes III
House · TX-30 · Democrat
“Fair pay and support for educators.”
View on their website ↗
Christina Hines
House · MI-10 · Democrat
“Push for federal grants to raise teacher and paraprofessional salaries in partnership with states.”
View on their website ↗
Lindsay James
House · IA-2 · Democrat
“Raise Teacher Pay and Expectations: Our teachers are on the front lines of many societal problems, and we’ve increasingly asked them to do more with less. Our educators deserve better pay, benefits, and working conditions.”
View on their website ↗
Cyril Jefferson
House · NC-6 · Democrat
“Cyril will raise teacher pay, expand affordable childcare, and create debt-free career pathways through apprenticeships—backed by his proven success in mobilizing $10M for job training and education.”
View on their website ↗
“Raise teacher pay and reduce class sizes.”
View on their website ↗
Jake Johnson
House · MN-1 · Democrat
“Outside of the classroom, Jake has navigated complex policy and budget debates as the Governmental Relations Coordinator and a bargaining team member for his union. His work helped improve wages and working conditions for 1,000+ teachers, nurses, and counselors.”
View on their website ↗
Melat Kiros
House · CO-1 · Democrat
“Education is the bedrock of a thriving democracy and a just society. From preschool through college, every child deserves free, high-quality public education regardless of their zip code. Decades of disinvestment, privatization, and over-testing have hollowed out our schools and burnt out our teachers. We need to invest in public schools, pay teachers a living wage, and fully fund early childhood education and public colleges. We were once the world leader in public education because we believed that it was about the pursuit of knowledge and progress, not profit. By reinvesting in education and meeting our basic needs, we can give every child the chance to follow their curiosity, grow their skills, and help build a future defined by creativity and innovation.”
View on their website ↗
Dan Koh
House · MA-6 · Democrat
“I support raising teacher pay and ensuring educators receive the benefits they deserve.”
View on their website ↗
Nancy Lacore
House · SC-1 · Democrat
“Those who serve our nation and our communities deserve the freedom to live in dignity. Service members, veterans, and those who keep our communities running (such as first responders and teachers) deserve competitive pay so they can afford homes in the communities they serve. Hospitality workers who support our $30BN tourism industry should also have access to affordable housing.”
View on their website ↗
Donavan McKinney
House · MI-13 · Democrat
“I’m going to Washington to put federal dollars back in our public schools; to invest in paying our teachers higher wages, nationwide universal free school lunches, expanding early child care resources, providing universal free pre-kindergarten, and broadening the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to fully fund equitable education for all children.”
View on their website ↗
Richard Ojeda
House · NC-9 · Democrat
“Raise teacher pay, cut student debt, and keep politics out of the classroom.”
View on their website ↗
“Pass legislation like the Pay Teachers Act and raise the national pay scale to at least 60k per year.”
View on their website ↗
“As a former teacher, I know educators deserve wages that reflect their commitment to our greatest resource and keep them in the classroom.”
View on their website ↗
“I will sponsor legislation like the Pay Teachers Act, a bill that raises the national teacher pay scale to at least $60,000.00 per year because they deserve it. I will fight so teachers can make a living without juggling multiple jobs. North Carolina will not keep good teachers if we do not pay them fairly.”
View on their website ↗
Bobby Pulido
House · TX-15 · Democrat
“That’s why I will focus on making sure teachers get paid better for educating our sons and daughters, on reducing classroom overcrowding, and investing in skills training so every student is prepared to do the jobs of tomorrow or to create the businesses that will take our South Texas economy into the future.”
View on their website ↗
Chris Rabb
House · PA-3 · Democrat
“Better Pay for Teachers”
View on their website ↗
Amish Shah
House · AZ-1 · Democrat
“In his five years at the State Legislature, Dr. Shah focused on increasing teacher pay, supporting small businesses, and improving public health and safety.”
View on their website ↗
“In Congress, Amish will defend the Department of Education, champion increased funding for public schools, and push for better teacher pay.”
View on their website ↗
Janelle Stelson
House · PA-10 · Democrat
“Quality public schools are the bedrock of our communities and the foundation of America. We should prioritize educating our children and making sure teachers, support professionals, cafeteria workers and bus drivers get the pay and respect they deserve.”
View on their website ↗
Claire Valdez
House · NY-7 · Democrat
“She will support legislation that ensures all people delivering education, particularly adjuncts and contingent faculty, have fair compensation, job security, and collective bargaining rights.”
View on their website ↗
Randy Villegas
House · CA-22 · Democrat
“Invest in our students, teachers and school staff Teachers and education staff deserve salaries they can plan for a future with, and classroom sizes small enough to steward every child’s development. Our education workers are vital for our society and it’s time they were treated like it.”
View on their website ↗
“As a school board trustee, I have fought for and successfully raised wages for our teachers, custodians, nutritional workers and bus drivers who are often the first face students see every day.”
View on their website ↗
Scott Wiener
House · CA-11 · Democrat
“Raise teacher pay through the American Teacher Act and strengthen Public Service Loan Forgiveness to retain talented educators.”
View on their website ↗

Improve teachers' working conditions, including smaller classes

8 members
Luke Bronin
House · CT-1 · Democrat
“We should invest more in people, with smaller class sizes, stronger teacher training and recruitment, better teacher pay.”
View on their website ↗
Darializa Avila Chevalier
House · NY-13 · Democrat
“Increase wages and improve working conditions for all educators and school staff”
View on their website ↗
Lindsay James
House · IA-2 · Democrat
“Raise Teacher Pay and Expectations: Our teachers are on the front lines of many societal problems, and we’ve increasingly asked them to do more with less. Our educators deserve better pay, benefits, and working conditions.”
View on their website ↗
Cyril Jefferson
House · NC-6 · Democrat
“Raise teacher pay and reduce class sizes.”
View on their website ↗
Jake Johnson
House · MN-1 · Democrat
“Outside of the classroom, Jake has navigated complex policy and budget debates as the Governmental Relations Coordinator and a bargaining team member for his union. His work helped improve wages and working conditions for 1,000+ teachers, nurses, and counselors.”
View on their website ↗
Bobby Pulido
House · TX-15 · Democrat
“That’s why I will focus on making sure teachers get paid better for educating our sons and daughters, on reducing classroom overcrowding, and investing in skills training so every student is prepared to do the jobs of tomorrow or to create the businesses that will take our South Texas economy into the future.”
View on their website ↗
Claire Valdez
House · NY-7 · Democrat
“She will support legislation that ensures all people delivering education, particularly adjuncts and contingent faculty, have fair compensation, job security, and collective bargaining rights.”
View on their website ↗
Randy Villegas
House · CA-22 · Democrat
“Invest in our students, teachers and school staff Teachers and education staff deserve salaries they can plan for a future with, and classroom sizes small enough to steward every child’s development. Our education workers are vital for our society and it’s time they were treated like it.”
View on their website ↗

Raise pay and protections for school support staff and paraprofessionals

6 members
Darializa Avila Chevalier
House · NY-13 · Democrat
“Increase wages and improve working conditions for all educators and school staff”
View on their website ↗
Sam Forstag
House · MT-1 · Democrat
“Increase teacher pay by investing in federal matching grants to make sure that every public school teacher, educational support staff, and early educator makes a living wage.”
View on their website ↗
Christina Hines
House · MI-10 · Democrat
“Push for federal grants to raise teacher and paraprofessional salaries in partnership with states.”
View on their website ↗
Micah Lasher
House · NY-12 · Democrat
“Support the Paraprofessionals and Education Support Staff Bill of Rights.”
View on their website ↗
Janelle Stelson
House · PA-10 · Democrat
“Quality public schools are the bedrock of our communities and the foundation of America. We should prioritize educating our children and making sure teachers, support professionals, cafeteria workers and bus drivers get the pay and respect they deserve.”
View on their website ↗
Randy Villegas
House · CA-22 · Democrat
“Invest in our students, teachers and school staff Teachers and education staff deserve salaries they can plan for a future with, and classroom sizes small enough to steward every child’s development. Our education workers are vital for our society and it’s time they were treated like it.”
View on their website ↗
“As a school board trustee, I have fought for and successfully raised wages for our teachers, custodians, nutritional workers and bus drivers who are often the first face students see every day.”
View on their website ↗

Use federal money to help raise teacher pay

5 members
Daniel Biss
House · IL-9 · Democrat
“Ensuring Teachers Get the Compensation They Deserve: It’s well past time that we pay our public school teachers like the heroes they are. We can make federal funds available to encourage states to raise teacher pay. We can also increase pay for our teachers by ensuring every teacher in the country can join a union and collectively bargain over their wages and benefits. I’ll also work to protect and expand public service loan forgiveness for our teachers. Finally, teachers shouldn’t be on the hook for the school supplies they buy to help our children learn. We need to increase the tax deduction for school supplies — and adjust it for inflation.”
View on their website ↗
Sam Forstag
House · MT-1 · Democrat
“Increase teacher pay by investing in federal matching grants to make sure that every public school teacher, educational support staff, and early educator makes a living wage.”
View on their website ↗
Christina Hines
House · MI-10 · Democrat
“Push for federal grants to raise teacher and paraprofessional salaries in partnership with states.”
View on their website ↗
Donavan McKinney
House · MI-13 · Democrat
“I’m going to Washington to put federal dollars back in our public schools; to invest in paying our teachers higher wages, nationwide universal free school lunches, expanding early child care resources, providing universal free pre-kindergarten, and broadening the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to fully fund equitable education for all children.”
View on their website ↗
Scott Wiener
House · CA-11 · Democrat
“Raise teacher pay through the American Teacher Act and strengthen Public Service Loan Forgiveness to retain talented educators.”
View on their website ↗

Improve teachers' benefits, pensions and loan forgiveness

4 members
Daniel Biss
House · IL-9 · Democrat
“Ensuring Teachers Get the Compensation They Deserve: It’s well past time that we pay our public school teachers like the heroes they are. We can make federal funds available to encourage states to raise teacher pay. We can also increase pay for our teachers by ensuring every teacher in the country can join a union and collectively bargain over their wages and benefits. I’ll also work to protect and expand public service loan forgiveness for our teachers. Finally, teachers shouldn’t be on the hook for the school supplies they buy to help our children learn. We need to increase the tax deduction for school supplies — and adjust it for inflation.”
View on their website ↗
Lindsay James
House · IA-2 · Democrat
“Raise Teacher Pay and Expectations: Our teachers are on the front lines of many societal problems, and we’ve increasingly asked them to do more with less. Our educators deserve better pay, benefits, and working conditions.”
View on their website ↗
Dan Koh
House · MA-6 · Democrat
“I support raising teacher pay and ensuring educators receive the benefits they deserve.”
View on their website ↗
Scott Wiener
House · CA-11 · Democrat
“Raise teacher pay through the American Teacher Act and strengthen Public Service Loan Forgiveness to retain talented educators.”
View on their website ↗

Set a national minimum salary for teachers

3 members
Sam Forstag
House · MT-1 · Democrat
“Increase teacher pay by investing in federal matching grants to make sure that every public school teacher, educational support staff, and early educator makes a living wage.”
View on their website ↗
Adam Hamawy
House · NJ-12 · Democrat
“Aumentar el salario de los maestros Los maestros y el personal de apoyo educativo hacen funcionar nuestras escuelas y son pilares de nuestras comunidades. Deberíamos reclutar y retener al mejor talento para enseñar a nuestros hijos. Algunos estados han aprobado pisos salariales más altos para maestros – deberíamos llevar esa idea al nivel federal.”

In Spanish on their site.

View on their website ↗
Richard Ojeda
House · NC-9 · Democrat
“Pass legislation like the Pay Teachers Act and raise the national pay scale to at least 60k per year.”
View on their website ↗
“I will sponsor legislation like the Pay Teachers Act, a bill that raises the national teacher pay scale to at least $60,000.00 per year because they deserve it. I will fight so teachers can make a living without juggling multiple jobs. North Carolina will not keep good teachers if we do not pay them fairly.”
View on their website ↗

Protect educators' right to unionize and bargain collectively

3 members
Daniel Biss
House · IL-9 · Democrat
“Ensuring Teachers Get the Compensation They Deserve: It’s well past time that we pay our public school teachers like the heroes they are. We can make federal funds available to encourage states to raise teacher pay. We can also increase pay for our teachers by ensuring every teacher in the country can join a union and collectively bargain over their wages and benefits. I’ll also work to protect and expand public service loan forgiveness for our teachers. Finally, teachers shouldn’t be on the hook for the school supplies they buy to help our children learn. We need to increase the tax deduction for school supplies — and adjust it for inflation.”
View on their website ↗
“Holding Charter Schools Accountable: Unaccountable charter schools have allowed corporate special interests to profit at the expense of our students and teachers. Charter schools need to be held to the same standards as traditional public schools — and must allow their teachers to unionize and bargain collectively.”
View on their website ↗
Christina Hines
House · MI-10 · Democrat
“I stand proudly beside our teachers and their unions.”
View on their website ↗
Claire Valdez
House · NY-7 · Democrat
“She will support legislation that ensures all people delivering education, particularly adjuncts and contingent faculty, have fair compensation, job security, and collective bargaining rights.”
View on their website ↗

From January 3, the class of 2026 is in hearings

Search congressional hearings. Get the clip.

Find what any member of Congress has said or asked in a hearing, and watch the moment it happened.

See plans

Search launches soon. The transcript archive is free now.