Map: Teacher Pay Increases in 2025-26 School Districts

Tracking Starting Teacher Salaries in Central Texas for 2025-26

As school districts across Central Texas prepare their budgets for the upcoming 2025-26 school year, attention is being paid to starting teacher salaries. This data-driven analysis provides a comprehensive overview of salary trends and changes across the region.

There are 58 school districts within the KXAN viewing area, ranging from Mason ISD in the west to Fayetteville ISD in the east. As of now, 45 of these districts have released their salary information for the new school year. The map below highlights starting salaries for new teachers with no experience, with additional districts being added as more data becomes available. Clicking the arrow in the top right corner allows users to view salaries for the 2024-25 school year.

Districts with the Highest and Lowest Starting Salaries

Several districts have announced their salary structures for the 2025-26 academic year. Del Valle ISD currently offers the highest starting salary at $60,000, representing a $400 increase from the previous year. This marks the third consecutive year that Del Valle has led the region in starting teacher pay.

Pflugerville ISD follows closely behind with a starting salary of $58,100, which reflects a 0.7% increase over last year. Other districts such as Bastrop ISD, Manor ISD, Hutto ISD, Leander ISD, Round Rock ISD, and others offer starting salaries of at least $56,000.

In contrast, several districts offer starting salaries of $50,000 or less. Jarrell ISD, Lockhart ISD, and others fall into this category. Cherokee ISD stands out as the district offering the lowest starting salary at $35,660. Richland Springs ISD, on the other hand, has historically used the state minimum teacher salary, which was increased by $300 to $33,960 this year. The district chose to add an additional $3,000 to that amount.

Salary Increases and Districts That Did Not Raise Pay

Of the districts that have announced their 2025-26 salaries, 30 have increased starting pay for new teachers compared to the previous school year. Dime Box ISD saw the largest percentage increase at 13.5%, raising its starting salary to $48,000 from $42,287. Coupland ISD followed with a 12.4% increase, while Richland Springs ISD saw a 9.8% rise.

In terms of dollar amounts, Dime Box ISD also had the highest increase, with a $5,713 raise. Coupland ISD increased by $5,200, and Llano ISD by $4,000.

Fifteen districts did not increase starting salaries for the new school year. These include Cameron ISD, Cherokee ISD, Eanes ISD, Elgin ISD, Georgetown ISD, and others.

Impact of House Bill 2 on Teacher Salaries

This year, state lawmakers passed a significant school funding package known as House Bill 2, signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in early June. The bill allocates $8.5 billion for public schools, with about half of that — $4.2 billion — designated for teacher pay raises. In some cases, these raises could be as high as $8,000.

The “Teacher Retention Allotment” is determined based on student enrollment and years of teaching experience. However, this allotment does not apply to starting salaries until a teacher has at least three years of experience. Therefore, new teachers may not see an increase in their starting pay unless their district chooses to implement one.

Ongoing Developments and Future Updates

Many districts have yet to finalize their salary decisions, waiting for further guidance from the Texas Education Agency regarding the impact of House Bill 2. Some expect to confirm their new salary structures in July or August.

As more data becomes available, KXAN will continue to update its coverage, providing an ongoing resource for residents seeking insights into education funding and teacher compensation in Central Texas.