NC Senate budget lays out these raises for teachers and state employees
The North Carolina Senate will vote on its budget bill this week, and Republican budget writers have proposed raises for state employees and teachers, as well as bonuses. The biggest raises would go to law enforcement officers.
Here’s a breakdown of all the raises you might receive later this year if legislation similar to Senate Bill 257, the 2025 Appropriations Act, becomes law.
Teachers and school staff
Teachers would have a new salary schedule under the Senate budget, and both teachers and instructional support positions would receive a $3,000 bonus over two years.
The legislature sets teachers’ base pay. Teachers can earn more based on certifications and other criteria, as well as from salary supplements provided by their school districts and, for most school districts, additional supplements provided by the state.
The new salary schedule, paid monthly over 10 months for most teachers, would pay $4,151 a month to teachers with no experience, which would be $41,510 a year, and $4,227 monthly to teachers with one year of experience.
There are increases each year of about $100 per month until a teacher reaches 25 years. The salary schedule for teachers with 25 or more years of experience is $5,665 per month, or $56,650 a year.
Teachers would receive an average 2.3% the first year, and 3.3% over the two years, Sen. Michael Lee said Tuesday, saying the estimated average teacher pay with supplements would be $62,407.
Most state employees
Nearly all state employees would get a raise of 1.25% and a $3,000 bonus, paid out as $1,500 each of the next two years.
Law enforcement raises
Law enforcement officers would receive additional raises on top of the 1.25% and $3,000 bonuses for all state employees. Here are the additional raises:
▪ Law enforcement officers in forestry; at parks within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; and within the Wildlife Resources Commission: 6.5% on average.
▪ Law enforcement within the Wildlife Resources Commission: 6.5%.
▪ Corrections officers: A new salary schedule for corrections officers has increases of 6.5% at every step.
▪ Probation and parole officers: Each step of their salary schedules would be increased by 3.25%.
▪ Sworn members of the State Highway Patrol, Alcohol Law Enforcement and the State Bureau of Investigation would receive 6.5% raises for each step of a reinstated salary schedule. SBI/ALE officers who are moving back to the schedule would receive a salary increase of 10%, not including step movement, according to budget documents.
▪ State Capitol Police: A raise, on average of 6.5% in addition to the 1.25% raises.
Raises for nurses, health care techs
In addition to the 1.25% raise, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and health care technicians at levels one and two would receive an additional 3.25% raise.
Governor
The governor’s salary would be raised to $205,611, a 1.25% increase.
Council of State
Aside from the governor, the Council of State includes the lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, labor commissioner, agriculture commissioner, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, auditor and insurance commissioner. All would be paid $170,489, a 1.25% increase.
General Assembly sergeants-at-arms and reading clerks
Both the sergeants-at-arms and reading clerks in the House and Senate would be paid $535 a week, an increase over their current pay of $528 per week. They will also receive the per diem and mileage expense reimbursements that lawmakers receive.
Sergeants-at-arms would also receive additional pay, though the amount is not yet determined, if approved by the House speaker and Senate president pro tempore as part of the General Assembly’s operating budget. That budget is overseen by the three-person Legislative Services Commission.
UNC System employees
UNC employees as well as teachers at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics would receive an across-the-board raise of 1.25%.
Community college employees
Community college employees would get the same 1.25% raise as most state employees, plus the $3,000 bonus, paid out as $1,500 each of the next two years.
Vacant jobs eliminated
Senate budget writers also would eliminate nearly 800 jobs that have been vacant for more than two years, Sen. Michael Lee, a top budget writer, said during a committee hearing on Tuesday. Lee said there are 14,000 vacant positions in state government.
When employees would get new raises
Most raises would be effective with the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, assuming the General Assembly passes a budget into law by then. In previous years when the budget was delayed, raises were retroactive. Most raises are over the two years of the spending plan. Lawmakers could make changes in a smaller 2026 budget adjustment bill, if they pass one.
The House budget proposal, which is likely to include higher raises, is expected in late May. Then a final budget compromise will be negotiated and sent to the desk of Democratic Gov. Josh Stein to sign or veto.
This story was originally published April 15, 2025 at 12:53 PM with the headline "NC Senate budget lays out these raises for teachers and state employees."
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