Debating whether public school teachers are overpaid or underpaid is a hot topic whenever cuts to education funding loom or student test scores are released.
Statewide, the average teacher salary declined slightly during the 2011-12 academic year to $68,531, the Bakersfield Californian reported.
A new online comparison tool lets the public compare average teacher salaries by school district, revealing that Peninsula teachers are slightly above the average teacher pay in California.
Overall, Santa Mateo County educators are on par with the state average.
Las Lomitas School District - which covers Menlo Park, Atherton and Ladera - pays its teachers the most in San Mateo County. South San Francisco teachers are paid the least.
But, the California Teachers Association doesn't put much stock in the comparison tool. Teacher salary scales are configured with formulas that take into account years of experience and education level, but many young and early-career teachers have been laid off due to budget cuts in recent years.
Teacher Salaries 2011-12School District Average Pay Student Enrollment Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary SD
$71,502
3,380 Burlingame School District $65,336 2,901 Hillsbourgh City School District $86,994 1,525 Las Lomitas Elementary SD
$92,494 1,363
Menlo Park City SD
$90,271 2,719 Millbrae Elementary School District $64,168 2,322 Redwood City Elementary SD $70,965 9,273 San Bruno Park Elementary SD $65,713 2,626 San Carlos Elementary SD $68,379 3,297 San Mateo-Foster City Elementary SD $65,720 11,204 San Mateo Union High School District $83,384 8,247 Sequoia Union High School District $81,674 8,947 South San Francisco Unified District $61,639 9,348 Woodside Elementary SD $88,406 446 Source: Ed-Data
California public school teachers make 16.1 percent less than other college graduates, according to the California Teachers Association. The disparity increases for those with master's degrees.
What do you think of how much Redwood City and Woodside teachers are paid? How about what other teachers across the County are paid? Tell us in the comments below.
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