[genwin]

If you look closely they're among the highest paid people already. By the time they retire at age 50, after just 25 years of service, they've got a lifetime pension that would cost you or me over $2 million (after paying taxes) to buy an annuity to cover. That's not to say they don't deserve it.

[dsr_]

Average teacher salary in Massachusetts, one of the richest states, is $70,340. The lowest-paying town has an average of under $45K. Highest, $92.5K.

Massachusetts probably doesn't have an issue with teacher salaries.

Mississippi has a statewide average salary of under $42K.

Is it well-scaled to cost-of-living? No.

Average teacher salary in Hawaii, one of the most expensive states to live in, is $55K.

Meanwhile, a 50 yo who retires with 25 years of service gets 25% of the average of their top three year's salaries as an annual pension. To get the maximum 80% pension, you need to have at least 35 years of service at 57. Figures from Massachusetts.

[genwin]

> Meanwhile, a 50 yo who retires with 25 years of service gets 25% of the average of their top three year's salaries as an annual pension.

Good info. I believe that would still put the 50 yo at > $100K annually on average during their working years, considering the cost of the equivalent annuity. (The price of an annuity increases exponentially as age at purchase decreases. In retirement they also get health insurance worth over $12K annually.) For the ones with 35 years of service it would top $150K.