Ohio Teacher Salaries Lag Nation, State Faces Staffing Challenges

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio's average public school teacher salary ranks 23rd nationwide, while its average starting salary places near the bottom of the country, according to data from the National Education Association.

During the 2024-25 school year, Ohio public school teachers earned an average of $70,586. This figure falls below the national average of $74,495, as reported by the NEA. For those new to the profession, Ohio's average starting teacher salary was $42,222, significantly lower than the national average starting salary of $48,112, placing Ohio 46th nationally for entry-level pay.

The findings emerge as Ohio's gubernatorial candidates, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, are calling for increased teacher compensation, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. The debate over teacher pay comes amidst ongoing staffing challenges in Ohio schools.

Jeff Wensing, president of the Ohio Education Association, stated that the salary figures indicate Ohio is falling behind in both starting pay and overall teacher compensation. He emphasized that education must be a sustainable career, allowing individuals to support and raise families, and that attracting and retaining talented educators is crucial.

In 2025, state schools faced a significant shortage, with one out of every eight teaching positions either vacant or filled by an educator considered underqualified. Wensing noted that compensation is a contributing factor to educators leaving the profession, seeking careers that better allow them to meet their family's financial needs.

Gubernatorial candidate Ramaswamy has expressed a desire to increase compensation for high-performing educators, with his campaign aiming to reward excellence and draw top talent. In a Facebook video posted on September 19, Ramaswamy indicated that he believes starting pay for public school teachers, which he cited as roughly $38,000 to $40,000, should be higher. However, Wensing disputed this characterization of Ohio's current starting compensation, pointing out that state law sets the base salary for a new teacher with a bachelor’s degree at $35,000. Ramaswamy’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment for the Ohio Capital Journal report.

Meanwhile, candidate Acton has advocated for increasing teacher compensation across the board. Her campaign spokeswoman, Virginia Schaus, said Acton has a personal connection to public education, crediting public schools with assisting her as a child and noting her husband is a longtime public school teacher. Schaus stated that Acton would prioritize teacher compensation as part of a broader effort to fully fund public schools, providing local districts with the necessary resources to attract and retain teachers. The Ohio Education Association has endorsed Acton in the governor's race.

In the Ohio Legislature, Democratic State Representatives Joe Miller and Michele Grim introduced House Bill 191 in 2025, a measure that would raise the state's minimum teacher salary to $50,000. The bill has had one committee hearing. If it does not pass before the current legislative session concludes in December, it would need to be reintroduced.

Further analysis by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) indicates that Ohio is among 32 states that do not provide additional pay specifically aimed at attracting or retaining teachers in subjects or schools that are difficult to staff. The NCTQ defines hard-to-staff subjects as those with persistent vacancies, such as special education, English as a second language, and high school mathematics and science. Hard-to-staff schools include those in higher-poverty communities or rural areas where districts have fewer potential applicants.

Hear Peske, president of the National Council on Teacher Quality, said that research examined by her organization suggests targeted financial incentives can improve teacher retention. The NCTQ recommends that states offer additional compensation for teachers in the highest-need assignments, suggesting a salary supplement of at least 7.5% for those positions. The organization also advises providing opportunities for high-performing teachers to earn additional compensation based on established evaluation criteria.

Ohio’s overall teacher payroll was estimated at approximately $7 billion during the 2024-25 school year, according to the NCTQ. The salary figures and differing proposals have positioned teacher compensation as a central issue in Ohio’s gubernatorial campaign, as candidates debate how the state can best recruit and retain educators to address widespread school vacancies.