How Rhode Island teacher salaries compare and who's making six figures
For decades, teachers in Southern New England have steadily held some of the top spots when it comes to paychecks.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — For decades, teachers in Southern New England have steadily held some of the top spots when it comes to paychecks.
According to the National Education Association, Rhode Island's average teacher salary is $66,758, which places it at 10th in the country. The state's average starting salary is $41,869, according to the latest NEA data.
In Massachusetts, teachers make an average of $80,357. The average starting salary is $45,498.
Other data available on average teacher salaries listed the salaries as between $55,000 and $75,000. According to a USA Today publication released in July, Rhode Island's average teacher pay is $72,058, or the third-highest in the country. USA Today ranked Rhode Island as the best place for public school teachers in the country -- another highly-debated ranking.
Through a public records request, NBC 10 News obtained Providence Schools' employee database. It listed 3,290 employees, including administrators, teachers, teaching assistants, crossing guards, among others, on full time, part-time, and temporary-basis positions. Salaries ranged from $165,162 to several thousand dollar stipends, depending on the position.
One-hundred thirty employees make six figures; 1,722 employees make $70,000 or more; 2,072 employees make $50,000 or more.
The average household income in Providence is about $40,000, according to the latest data provided by the Department of Labor.
Despite the historically high rankings, many teachers still work hard to make ends meet in today's economy. Uber drivers, retail and bartending are just some of the second jobs teachers are taking to pay the bills.
"It's a difficult subject because at this point everybody feels teachers are fine; they have summers off," state Sen. Hanna Gallo, D-Cranston, said. "But there's another side of that story."
Gallo said aside from working to pay the bills, now more than ever, teachers are earning a great deal of "sweat equity," working off the clock and going above and beyond for their students.
"There's more paperwork. There are more meetings. There's more to do besides just standing in front of your classroom and teaching," Gallo said.
Rhode Island, along with many other states in the country, is experiencing a major teacher shortage. Providence Public Schools started off the school year with nearly 100 open teaching positions.
Gallo said while it is not all about the money, Rhode Island must keep salaries competitive to attract the best of the best.
"We want our best and our brightest," Gallo said. "If you pay for monkeys, that's what you get."
Providence Teachers Union president Maribeth Calabro said the union is working on a recruitment campaign and plans to partner with the University of Rhode Island and other local institutions to attract more educators to the district.
Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green plans to start a statewide recruitment campaign.