Effort to raise teachers’ pay in Maine moves forward

AUGUSTA, Maine (WMTW) - A bill to give public school teachers in Maine a raise is moving forward.

The bill, LD 1064, earned initial support from both the House and Senate this week. Both chambers need to vote a second time before it goes to Gov. Janet Mills. She has said she supports the idea.

A public hearing was held on the bill in April.

Right now, starting pay for public school teachers in Maine is $40,000 per year. This bill would raise that to $50,000 per year over the course of five years.

The raises would be as follows:

• $42,500 in fiscal year 2024-25
• $45,000 in fiscal year 2025-26
• $47,500 in fiscal year 2026-27
• $50,000 in fiscal year 2027-28

The bill is projected to cost the state $3.5 million in the fiscal year 2024-25. The bill does provide limited additional state funding to help pay for the higher wages. It is modeled on the law that raised the minimum salary to $40,000, in which the state pays local districts to get all teachers to the new minimum.

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