A new National Education Association analysis shows teacher pay increases in 2024–25 did not keep pace with inflation, leaving real purchasing power flat for many educators. The NEA estimates average teacher salaries rose from $71,985 to $74,495—up 3.5%—but when adjusted for inflation, the increase was much smaller, and teacher pay measured against a decade earlier is down 4.6% in real terms. NEA President Becky Pringle used the report to highlight that educators remain overworked and underpaid relative to living costs. The same analysis identifies stark regional differences, with highest averages in high-cost areas like California ($103,552), New York ($98,655), and Washington, D.C. ($96,589). The reporting also flags that support workers’ pay rose less sharply and, even where nominal wages increased, inflation-adjusted changes remained modest. Policy debates continue over proposals such as a federal minimum teacher salary, which lawmakers have not adopted. The tight labor affordability environment is likely to affect staffing, retention, and district planning—issues that higher education professionals may increasingly see reflected in teacher residency pipelines, education program enrollment, and K–12 partnership models.