Tennessee teachers struggle with low pay, some forced to work second jobs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Right now Tennessee teachers are one of the lowest paid in the nation. The National Education Association (NEA) reports Tennessee is 44 in the nation for teacher salaries.

Susan Norwood is a English high school teacher for Metro Nashville Public Schools. She says their salaries are insulting.

You cannot afford to live independently on a teacher salary,” said Norwood.

Norwood says she did a survey at her high school where she discovered more than half of her colleagues work a second job to pay the bills.

“We have teachers driving for rideshare services, working retail, doing landscaping,” said Norwood.

Williamson County Board of Education member Eric Welch blames the state. He says their district doesn’t get enough money from the state to fund public schools.

“If you look at the Williamson County school budget which is ours, 85 percent of it goes towards our staff and that’s salaries and healthcare benefits so that’s the lying share of the budget,” said Welch.

Welch explains their budget is lean, and they’re putting what they have towards teachers.

Governor Lee is raising teacher salaries. He’s aiming to raise the starting salary to a minimum of $50,000 for the 2026 school year. NEA’s report shows the average teacher salary in Tennessee is just over $55,000.

FOX 17 news reached out to Governor Lee’s office to see if he will do anything to increase teacher salaries even more, but we have not heard back yet.

Williamson County Schools teacher Karolyn Marino says they’re having a hard time retaining teachers.

Education is going to look a lot different if we can’t get the teachers in,” said Marino.

She emphasizes the younger teachers can’t afford a home or to just pay their bills.

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