How does California’s education spending compare with that of other states?

California has been consistently below the national average in per-pupil spending and in its teacher-pupil and staff-pupil ratios. In addition, the state is an expensive place to live, and this high cost of living has been reflected in teacher salaries as well as those of other educators. Although the state spends less than the U.S. average on operating expenditures, national data show that districts in this state use their operating funds in much the same way as is true nationally. At the same time, California’s educators are responsible for considerably more students than their counterparts in most other states.

Per-Pupil Expenditures
California has consistently fallen below the national average in per-pupil expenditures, ranking 29th in 2005–06, according to the National Education Association’s (NEA) Rankings and Estimates 2006–07. At $8,486 per pupil, California was at 93% of the national average of $9,100 and ranked in the middle of the five most populous states. The District of Columbia, which ranked at the top of all states, spent $15,508. Utah, ranked last, spent $5,347.

Teachers’ Salaries
The average teacher salary in California was $59,825 in 2005–06, according to the NEA, higher than any other state. The U.S. average was $49,026. However, the relatively higher cost of living in California is a significant factor. When comparing teacher salaries among states, both the cost of living in each state and the seniority of the workforce play a role. The American Federation of Teachers looked at average teacher salaries in 2000–01 and determined that when cost-of-living factors were taken into account, California ranked 16th in the nation.

Teacher Salary and Expenditure Comparisons for 2005-06

California Rank in U.S. California Average U.S. Average Top Bottom

Teachers' salaries
(2005-06) 1 $59,825 $49,026 $59,825
(California)

$34,709

(South Dakota)

Expenditures per pupil (2005-06) 29 $8,486 $9,100
$15,508

(District of Columbia)

$5,347

(Utah)

Public school revenue
(2003-04) per $1,000
personal income in 2004 26 $46 $47 $60
(Vermont)

$29

(District of
Columbia)

Per capital personal
income (2004) 12 $35,172 $33,041
$52,101

(District of Columbia)

$24,379

(Mississippi)

Note: The numbers in this table are based on full enrollment data. The District of Columbia is included among the states.
National Education Association's Rankings & Estimates, 2006-07

A more recent 2005 analysis of elementary school teacher pay in 50 major metropolitan areas by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) provides further perspective. NCPA found that while elementary school teachers in San Francisco rank 2nd among the 50 areas with an unadjusted average salary of $59,284, the salary falls to $32,663 when adjusted for the cost of living, and San Francisco falls to 49th among the areas they compared. Similarly, Los Angeles elementary school teachers’ average salary ranked 4th before a cost-of-living adjustment, and 48th after. Findings for secondary school teachers were similar. NCPA determined metropolitan areas’ cost of living by using the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association Cost of Living Index, and determined average teacher salaries using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates report.

School Staffing

California ranked almost last in terms of the ratio of total school staff to students in 2005–06, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The state had only 72% as many school staff members as the average state. With respect to administrators, California had 274 students per administrator. That was significantly higher than the U.S. average of 174 and higher still than the average of 109 in Texas, another of the five most populous states. California had only 33% as many district officials/administrators as the national average and only 63% as many school principals and assistant principals as the national average.

With respect to teachers, California ranked 49th, with 75% as many as the national average. California ranked 51st—last—on guidance counselors and librarians. California had only 1.1 guidance counselors per 1,000 students, compared to an average of 2.1 nationally and only 0.2 librarians per 1,000 students, compared to 1.1 nationally.

Staff per 1,000 Pupils in 2005-06

New York Texas Illinois U.S. Average Florida California California's Rank % National Average

Total Staff 132.7 `137.1 125.4 124.7 117.5 90.0 50 72%

Total District Staff* 8.6 2.9 5.7 5.7 6.6 5.0 35 88%

Officials and Administrators 1.1 1.8 1.8 1.3 0.7 0.4 47 33%

School Staff* 103.8 99.7 96.0 95.2 87.0 70.0 51 74%

Principals/Asst. Principals 3.1 7.0 3.1 3.4 2.7 2.2 49 63%

Teachers 77.8 66.8 63.4 63.9 59.4 48.0 49 75%

Guidance Counselors 2.4 2.3 1.5 2.1 2.1 1.1 51 52%

Librarians 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.0 0.2 51 17%

Total Certified School Staff 84.5 77.2 69.0 70.5 65.3 51.5 49 73%

Note: The District of Columbia is included with the 50 states. NCES includes pre-K public school students and their teachers in these data. NCES estimated that there were 125,099 pre-K students and 8,850 pre-K teachers in California in 2005–06.

*District and school totals include classified staff.

Data: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data, 2005-06.
EdSource 11/07

Note: When considering all these numbers, it is important to be aware that states are dramatically different in size, ethnic and socioeconomic characteristics, cost of living, and in how they set policy, fund public education, and govern their schools.