Teachers - Salary
Date posted: 04/02/2008
Quick Data Links
What this chart shows: Average Teacher Salary in Colorado and Larimer County School Districts, 2000-01 to 2006-07
Data Source: Colorado Department of Education
What this chart shows: Average Teacher Salary by Grade Level Instructed in Larimer County School Districts, 2006-07
Data Source: Colorado Department of Education
What these data tell us:
Between 2000-01 and 2005-06, average salaries in Thompson School District had the highest percentage increase (13.2%) followed by Park (12.6%) and Poudre (11.3%). Park School District salaries were consistently lower than those in the other Larimer County districts, and the State, during this time period. Between 2005-06 and 2006-07 the average teacher salary in Colorado increased by 5.5%. During this time, Thompson School District salaries barely increased (0.6%), Poudre District increased by 3.1%, and Park School District salaries increased by 17.3%.
A report by the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado for 2004: A Family Needs Budget (page 57) indicates that a Larimer County household of four would need an income of at least $47,261 to be self-sufficient. The average Larimer County teacher salary in 2006-07, approximately $45,000, remains almost 5% lower than the wage needed to be self-sufficient in 2004.
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 averages 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.
Additional Information:
On Compass-
- ACT Scores
- CSAP scores
- Drop-Out 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 - Ethnicity & Gender
Outside Compass -
- American Federation of Teachers
- Colorado Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics
- 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 |
Average Teacher Salary by Type of School,
Larimer County School Districts - 2006-07
|
Type of School |
Average Salary |
|
Elementary School |
$45,537 |
|
Middle School |
$45,001 |
|
High School |
$44,213 |