Facts about Iowa teacher salaries

• An Iowa teacher earns the average teacher salary of $40,877 at age 42 after teaching for 15 years. (Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Basic Education Data Survey)

• Average Iowa teacher salaries vary widely according to school district size -- from $33,797 in districts with enrollments of fewer than 250 students to $45,508 in districts with enrollments of 7,500 or more students. (Iowa Department of Education, Condition of Education Report 2006)

• The average Iowa teaching salary is about $20,000 below the average salary for other Iowa professionals with similar education requirements and job skills. (ISEA Research; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

• While Iowa teaching salaries have increased, they have not kept up with inflation. From 1970 to 2004, teachers have actually lost 2 percent in purchasing power after inflation. (ISEA Research)

• Salaries of school principals and superintendents have increased at significantly higher rates than teacher salaries. Since 1985-86, superintendent salaries increased 141.3 percent, to $98,213; principal salaries increased about 111.4 percent, to $74,666; while teacher salaries increased 93.6 percent, to $41,996, including extra duty and other supplemental pay. (Iowa Department of Education, Condition of Education Report 2006)