Teacher pay in Arizona lags the national average by about $10,000 annually, according to the National Education Association. (Photo by Leah Goldberg/Cronkite News)
Arizona teachers are demanding a 20 percent pay increase, saying it would bring wages closer to the national average. Arizona Educators United, in a Red for Ed rally at the Capitol last week, discussed the impact of low teacher pay and state funding of education in seeking the pay hike. Gov. Doug Ducey has said that he will not increase taxes to increase teacher salaries. Cronkite News looked at how Arizona teacher pay stacked up against the national averages. The information does not consider median household income or cost of living.