SPS teacher salaries cross $100,000 mark

Base salary for the most-senior teachers in Spokane Public Schools will surpass $100,000 annually for the first time, according to a pay scale approved Wednesday night by the district board of directors.

The new schedule reflected a 1.8% cost-of-living hike for certificated staff – mostly teachers and counselors, a 2% raise for principals and other building administrators and a 1.8% increase for classified staff.

The new schedule goes into effect on July 1 for the first two categories and on Sept. 1 for classified workers.

The result of collective-bargaining agreements, all pay hikes are part of the board’s consent agenda.

The salaries approved Wednesday do not include benefits.

Teachers at the top end of the scale will earn $94,246 in base salary, plus $7,236 in “enrichment” pay – compensation for extra hours worked outside the classroom – for a total of $101,482.

A beginning teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no experience is scheduled to earn $50,424.

That jumps to $79,275 for a teacher with a master’s and 10 years in the classroom.

Salaries for building administrators will increase 2 percent over last year. Depending on experience, elementary school principals will earn from $111,261 to $128,981; middle school principals from $116,825 to $135,432; and high school principals from $122,666 to $142,201.

Classified staff will see smaller increases. A custodial assistant with four years’ experience will earn $38,650, while a head custodian at a high school will make $56,493 after nine years on the job.

Pay is slightly higher for groundskeepers. After 4 years with the district, a Level 1 gardener will earn $40,648. At the top end, a grounds foreman will top out at $75,820 after 24 years.

Pay for paraeducators is by the hour – $19.10 after 4 years for a Para 1.