MS teachers may get a pay bump soon. Here’s how much and the last time they got a raise
Mississippi teachers are favored to receive a significant pay bump after state lawmakers voted for a bill to boost educator salaries.
House Bill 1126 to raise teacher pay by $5,000 passed unanimously Feb. 4, about a month after a different bill to raise teacher pay by $2,000 passed in the Senate.
So, when will teacher pay increase? And how much will it increase by? Here’s what to know.
What’s in Mississippi HB 1126?
House Bill 1126 does the following things:
1. Increases the minimum teacher salary scale in Mississippi public schools by $5,000, moving the minimum annual salary from $41,500 to $46,500.
2. Allows special education teachers an additional $3,000 per year.
3. Grants pay raises for school nurses, school counselors, speech therapists and athletic trainers.
4. Obligates school districts to pay teachers at least once a month.
5. Addresses retired teachers’ salaries.
When would the pay increase take place?
According to the bill, the pay increase for educators would take effect for the 2026-2027 school year.
What happens next?
The bill will now move to the Senate for a vote. The Senate’s bill which passed in January will also move to the House for a vote.
If House Bill 1126 passes in the Senate, it will be sent to Gov. Tate Reeves who may then sign it into a law or veto it.
When was the last pay raise for MS teachers?
The last pay raise for teachers across the Magnolia State happened in 2022 when teacher pay increased from $37,123 to $41,638, Mississippi Today reported.
The raise — which grew from $210 million to $246 million during the state’s legislative session — was the largest in state history, according to the outlet.
