Below is a table that tallies the top step salaries for teachers with a Master’s Degree in North Carolina without adjustment for inflation. It starts with 2006-2007 school year.
Imagine being a teacher who starts in each of those years looking at the salary schedule to see what could be possible when you reach the last part of a career in education. The figures below represent the maximum according to its published year.
If you earn a graduate degree and started that program after 2014, you will no longer be able get graduate degree pay. Only those who earned a master’s or above before the cut off year are grandfathered in. Same for due-process rights.
NBCT certification does offer a pay raise, but the process must be self-financed if undertaken.
| School Year | Top Salary For A Master’s Degree Started In Year You Began Master’s Degree Before Or In 2014 | Due Process Rights as a Veteran And Longevity Pay | Medical Insurance As A Retiree |
| 2006-2007 | $54,800 (Year 30) | Yes | Yes |
| 2007-2008 | $57,290 (Year 31) | Yes | Yes |
| 2008-2009 | $57,810 (Year 31) | Yes | Yes |
| 2009-2010 | $57,810 (Year 32) | Yes | Yes |
| 2010-2011 | $57,810 (Year 33) | Yes | Yes |
| 2011-2012 | $57,810 (Year 34) | Yes | Yes |
| 2012-2013 | $58,500 (Year 35) | Yes | Yes |
| 2013-2014 | $58,500 (Year 36) | Yes | Yes |
| 2014-2015 | $55,000 (Year 30) | No | Yes |
| 2015-2016 | $50,000 (Year 25) | No | Yes |
| 2016-2017 | $51,000 (Year 25) | No | Yes |
| 2017-2018 | $51,300 (Year 25) | No | Yes |
| 2018-2019 | $52,000 (Year 25) | No | Yes |
| 2020-2021 | $52,000 (Year 25) | No | Yes |
| 2021-2022 | $52,680 (Year 25) | No | Yes |
| 2022-2023 | $54,000 (Year 25) | No | No |
| 2023-2024 | $55,100 (Year 25) | No | No |
| 2024-2025 | $55,950 (Year 25) | No | No |
| 2025-2026 | $55,950 (Year 25) | No | No |
| 2026-2027 | $59,000 (Year 25) | No | No |
Again, there is no longevity pay any longer.
Imagine what this would be if adjusted for inflation.
Below are links to copies of the actual salary schedules for each of those years including pay scales for bachelor’s and master’s degree.
salary-schedules-06-07Download
salary-schedules-07-08Download
salary-schedules-08-09Download
salary-schedules-09-10Download
salary-schedules-10-11Download
salary-schedules-11-12Download
salary-schedules-12-13Download
salary-schedules-13-14Download
salary-schedules-14-15Download
salary-schedules-15-16Download
Here is the new salasry schedule just passed this month for 2026-2027.
And this is a useful tool from the Governor’s Office on NC teacher pay.
