Montana ranks near bottom for teacher pay

In a recent report by the National Education Association, Montana ranked 46th in the United States of America for educator pay.

The average salary for an educator in Montana is $39,832.

Average starting salary for Montana educators is $25,318, which ranks second to last in the U.S.
Glendive Superintendent of Schools Jim Germann said he is aware Montana is low on salary and he said there have been problems as a result.

By Charlie Denison
Ranger-Review Staff Writer

"Our starting salary in Glendive is $26,630," Germann said. "We have lost some good applicants to Wyoming, where they are paid much more."

Wyoming’s average starting salary for teachers is $38,500 and rising, according to the NEA. The average salary for a Wyoming teacher is $46,500.

Currently, Wyoming ranks seventh in the nation in teacher pay.

When the salary is adjusted for cost of living factors, Wyoming ranks No. 1.

Germann said even student teachers who received their experience in Glendive schools are going to Wyoming.

"We can’t compete with them right now," he said. "We are losing some of our best teachers because [Wyoming and some surrounding states] have the salaries to pay them."

One problem Glendive schools have is the Montana educational payment schedule does not allow for salaries to go up if there is declining enrollment, Germann said.

The last few years, enrollment has lowered in Glendive schools, but that trend is reversing as there are 52 new students in the elementary schools this fall, Germann said.

Germann predicts the budgets for Glendive schools will grow.

Soon Glendive will be able to afford more teachers, Germann said.

"We’re at the edge of an oil boom," he said. "There is talk of people building more houses. We’ll be able to sustain the enrollment as long as there are jobs for young people here."

When looking at the recent statistics, Montana House District 38 Rep. Matt Rosendale said the problem does not lie in how much teachers are paid but in how well the students are educated.

"Just raising wages for teachers has not been proven to improve the education of the students," Rosendale said.

In order to improve the school system, Rosendale recommends teachers scrutinize the curriculum and test the students frequently to make sure they retain the information.

"How do you know where the students are if you’re not checking the road map every once in a while?" he said. "Inspect what you expect."

Regarding Wyoming, Rosendale said their favorable numbers factor into their ability to develop resources more efficiently than Montana, particularly coal.

"We are way behind the coal development because [Wyoming] grasped the opportunity when it came along," Rosendale said. "When you miss opportunity, you don’t delay opportunity – you miss it. You completely miss it."

Part of this problem for Montana was created by Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau, who voted against the development of the Otter Creek coal tracts in the southeastern part of the state, Rosendale said.

As a legislator, Rosendale sits on the education and local government committee for Montana. What Rosendale is focusing on as a member of the committee is outcome.

"I believe in performance-based funding," he said. "We’ve got to see what we can do to improve the performances of our students. It’s about incentive."

Reach Charlie Denison at [email protected].

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