Utah lawmakers announce nearly $1,500 increase to teacher salaries

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Utah lawmakers announced on Friday that teachers in the Beehive State will be getting a nearly $1,500 salary increase but the Utah Education Association (UEA) says that only scratches the tip of the iceberg when it comes to supporting public education.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and the Utah Legislature said this year’s direct salary increase is a testament to Utah’s dedication to valuing and supporting teachers. The $1,446 salary increase also includes a $1,000 bonus for education support staff.

“Teachers change lives, and they deserve to be valued, supported, and paid fairly for their incredible work,” said Governor Spencer Cox. “This investment is another step in our commitment to ensuring Utah remains among the best places in the nation to teach and learn. This is not just about funding education; it’s about the future of our students, families and communities – built here.”

In addition to the salary increase, the proposed education funding includes:

• $50 million – $1,000 bonus for educator support staff
• $178 million – 4% funding increase to raise salaries for all school district employees
• $77.7 million – Educator professional time
• $65 million – Career and Technical Education Catalyst grant program
• $14.3 million – Teachers’ supplies and materials
• $12.4 million – Stipends for Future Educators grants for student teachers
• $7.3 million – Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Grant Program
• $795,700 – Support for professional liability insurance premiums for Utah educators

The Utah Legislature said the investments made by lawmakers over the last year have propelled Utah to the No. 2 spot in education and among the highest starting salaries for teachers in the West – from $44,000 in 2020 to $60,000 in 2024. The hope is to attract educators to Utah and retain veteran teachers in the classroom.

“We deeply care for teachers. The success of our students and educators is the foundation of Utah’s prosperity and essential to making the Utah Dream a reality for all,” said Senate President J. Stuart Adams. “These investments and rankings are more than just numbers – they reflect the real impact of prioritizing Utah’s teachers, who help shape the next generation of leaders.”

UEA President Renée Pinkney said the salary increase is an important recognition of Utah’s education profession, but the state’s public schools are still underfunded and overcrowded. She said this leaves Utah’s educators still struggling under the weight of what she called unsustainable workloads.

“Educators across the state are burning out due to a severe lack of support, insufficient staffing, and the growing challenges of managing student needs without adequate behavioral support resources,” said Pinkney. “Instead of addressing these urgent issues, anti-public education politicians continue to funnel millions of taxpayer dollars into private religious schools through their voucher scheme and starving our public schools of the resources they desperately need.”

Pinkney said the policies announced on Friday and over the last few years were championed by members of the UEA while Utah’s politicians passed a “union-busting bill designed to silence educator voices.”

“If Utah’s leaders are serious about supporting educators and students, they must invest in real long-term solutions: respectable wages, sustainable staffing levels, classroom behavioral supports and fully funding public education instead of diverting millions to private interests,” said Pinkney.”

Utah lawmakers argue the newly proposed raise and investments build upon years of efforts to “enhance education” and teacher well-being. Such as salary bonuses for teachers in high-poverty schools and more than $2 billion increase in public education funding over 10 years.

The UEA said it will continue to fight for more resources, respect and real solutions that it said students and educators deserve.