Idaho and 31 other states do not offer extra pay to recruit and retain teachers for hard-to-fill positions, according to a report released Tuesday from the National Council on Teacher Quality.
Salaries and benefits make up about 80% of school spending nationally, the report found. But how states and districts use those funds has a large impact on teacher retention and recruitment.
“Paying more for hard-to-fill positions and rewarding top performers is a no-brainer in most professions,” NCTQ President Heather Peske said in a news release. “Teaching should be no different, especially when budgets are tightening.”
With declining enrollment nationwide, uncertain federal funding and inflation contributing to budget issues in many states, evaluating how teachers are paid could make an impact on student achievement, the report states.
Idaho Teacher Pay
Idaho spent approximately $1.1 billion on teacher salaries for the 2024-25 school year, according to the report. Idaho teachers made $62,786 on average, 36th in the nation, according to a recent study from the National Education Association. The Gem State routinely ranks last in the country for per-student spending.
The state provides no additional funding for hard-to-staff schools or subjects. The council suggested a 7.5% salary supplement for teachers working in hard-to-fill schools or subjects.
For example, Hawaii offers a $10,000 annual bonus for special education teachers, cutting vacancies by 35%, according to the report.
There is also no requirement to consider teacher effectiveness when determining salary in Idaho. The council suggested incentivizing effective teachers with financial rewards for meeting certain criteria. The report also suggests redirecting spending away from credentials like master’s degrees.
“The research is clear: teachers with master’s degrees are generally no more effective than those without,” the report reads.
Instead, the report suggests states move toward a performance-based system.
“States cannot simply spend more to build a stronger teacher workforce, but they can spend smarter by directing their dollars toward effective teachers and the schools and subjects where they’re needed most,” Peske said.
