Just how underpaid are Texas teachers? Maybe a lot, but maybe less than a lot

At the risk of a few brickbats

They may still be somewhat underpaid, but are they that underpaid? Right now, according to the Texas Federation of Teachers, they’re 30th in the nation. I’m sure eight of the other 10 states of the rebellious south (not counting Florida and Virginia) rank lower. I’ll include all Midwestern/Plains states west of the Mississipi, except Missouri and Minnesota, for six more. That’s 14 of the 20 states below Texas. I’ll also throw in six Mountain West states east of the Pacific Rim (excluding Colorado and Arizona) and there’s my 20 states.

In most the remaining states, except Missouri, Minnesota and the Great Lakes states, gas prices and some related costs are higher than Texas. In just about all the 29 states above Texas on teacher pay, housing costs are higher to much higher.

(Ask a teacher in much of metropolitan California or New York to swap salaries — AND costs of living — with Texas, and they’ll probably take that bet.)

So, if we compare apples to apples, Texas teachers may be not be THAT underpaid. Throw in a proposed $850 pay raise, and they look a bit better.

NOTE: Nothing in this post is designed to argue the apples-oranges comparison, whether or not teachers as a profession are adequately paid.