North Carolina teachers receive their salaries from a mix of state, local, and federal funding sources. Here's how it works:


State Funding: The largest portion of teacher salaries comes from the state budget, which sets a base salary schedule for teachers based on experience and education level. The state legislature determines these salaries, and recent budget proposals have debated increasing starting pay and reinstating annual raises for experienced teachers.

 Local Funding: Counties and school districts can provide supplemental pay on top of the state-funded base salary. This varies by district, with wealthier counties often offering higher supplements to attract and retain teachers.

 Federal Funding: Some teachers receive additional pay from federal programs, especially those working in Title I schools (schools with high numbers of low-income students) or special education programs.

 Grants & Incentives: Teachers may also receive bonuses or stipends from state or federal grants, such as National Board Certification bonuses or funding for hard-to-staff subjects like math and science.

The funding structure can lead to significant disparities in teacher pay across different districts, with urban and wealthier counties often paying more than rural areas. Recent debates in the NC legislature have focused on increasing teacher salaries and addressing these disparities.