Holly Springs, NC, July 14, 2026 — North Carolina’s new state budget gives public school teachers raises ranging from 5.5% to more than 17% at the experience levels examined, substantially exceeding the 3% increase Wake County Public Schools used when building its 2026-27 budget.
For teachers, the largest increase goes to those just entering the classroom. A first-year teacher with a bachelor’s degree will earn $4,800 a month, up from $4,100 during the 2025-26 school year, a $700 monthly increase, or 17.1%. The percentage increase declines with experience, reaching 5.5% for teachers with 15 or more years of service.
The new state schedule, effective July 1st, 2026, also creates a local budget question for Wake County, which fully funded a school system spending plan built around a salary assumption that no longer matches the raises enacted by the state.
Teacher Raises Vary Sharply by Experience
A teacher with five years in the classroom will see a monthly state base pay increase from $4,475 to $4,950, a 10.6% raise. At 10 years, pay increases from $4,935 to $5,314, a 7.7% increase…