WASHINGTON – Teachers were paid an average of $45,771 last year, a figure not keeping pace with educators’ expenses, says a teachers’ union survey.

The typical teacher’s salary went up 3.3 percent in 2002-03, the last year for which figures are available, according to an annual report by the American Federation of Teachers. The 1.3-million member union gets its financial data from state education departments.

The pay range varies significantly by state, accounting for differences in cost of living and the way salary packages are set up. California paid the highest average salary, $55,693. South Dakota had the lowest, $32,414.

Concerns about competitive pay often are raised by business and government leaders as well as teachers. Salaries are seen as a chief reason that schools struggle to recruit and retain top educators in math, science and other fields.

For the second straight year, union leaders say, double-digit increases in health insurance expenses eroded teachers’ ability to make a living. Like many workers, teachers are being told to pay more for standard insurance, doctor’s visits and prescription drugs.

Given those increases and other out-of-pocket expenses, “compensation packages are nothing short of insulting,” said Edward McElroy, the union’s secretary-treasurer. The union is helping many districts review health expenses to reduce costs without weakening care.

The actual pay increase last year for teachers was closer to 2.5 percent, said Jewell Gould, director of research for the union.

The higher figure of 3.3 percent reflects that there were more senior teachers moving to the top of the pay scale – driving up the average salary – while fewer new teachers were hired during a lean economic time, he said.

New teachers were paid an average of $29,564 last year, an increase of 3.2 percent. Twenty states and the District of Columbia now pay first-time teachers more than $30,000, a sign of improvement, Gould said.

Salaries are usually based on a teacher’s education and seniority.

The union also took a shot at the salaries paid to superintendents, the top officials at the school district level. The union says some superintendents make as much as four times the amount that teachers do.

Bruce Hunter, lobbyist for the American Association of School Administrators, said that comparison is unfair.

Superintendents have much different duties from teachers and have longer work years, he said. Administrators’ pay varies significantly, with many rural superintendents getting around $50,000 a year and big city leaders getting much more.

“Superintendents get whatever the school boards think leadership is worth,” he said, adding: “We all wished teachers were paid commensurate with their responsibility and value.”

Average Teacher Salaries

Salaries ranked by state for the 2002-03 school year.

State Salary

Calif. 55,693

Mich. 54,020

Conn. 53,962

N.J. 53,872

D.C. 53,194

N.Y. 53,017

R.I. 52,879

Mass. 51,942

Ill. 51,496

Pa. 51,425

Md. 50,410

Del. 49,821

Alaska 49,694

Ore. 47,463

Ohio 45,515

Ga. 45,414

Ind. 44,966

Wash. 44,961

Minn. 44,745

Va. 42,778

Hawaii 42,768

Colo. 42,679

N.C. 42,411

Vt. 42,038

N.H. 41,909

Nev. 41,795

Wis. 41,617

S.C. 40,362

Fla. 40,281

Texas 39,972

Ariz. 39,955

Idaho 39,784

Ala. 39,524

Tenn. 39,186

Maine 38,518

W.Va. 38,497

Ky. 38,486

Utah 38,268

Kan. 38,030

Iowa 38,000

Neb. 37,896

Wyo. 37,789

Mo. 37,641

Ark. 37,536

La. 37,116

N.M. 37,054

Mont. 35,754

Miss. 35,135

N.D. 33,869

Okla. 33,277

S.D. 32,414

Nation 45,771

Source: American Federation of Teachers