Charleston, S.C. - Two South Carolina lawmakers have prefiled separate bills aimed at setting a minimum salary for teachers in the state. The proposed amounts vary significantly, with one bill calling for a minimum annual salary of $52,000 and the other advocating for a minimum of $70,000.

Representative Joseph H. Jefferson, who represents Berkeley and Dorchester Counties, introduced a bill that would require new teachers to receive a minimum salary of $52,000 starting in the school year 2024-2025. The bill also states that any current teacher who earned less than $52,000 in the previous school year must receive a salary of no less than $55,000.

According to Rep. Jefferson, adequate compensation is necessary to attract and retain high-quality teachers. He points out that $52,000 is comparable to the salaries offered by new industries entering the tri-county area. Data from the South Carolina Education Association reveals that the average starting salary for a teacher in the state was $38,929 in the 2021-2022 school year.

Rep. Wendell Gilliard, who represents Charleston County, introduced the second bill, which proposes a higher minimum annual salary of $70,000 for new teachers starting in the school year 2024-2025. Existing teachers who earned less than $70,000 in the previous school year must receive a salary of no less than $75,000 under this bill.

Rep. Gilliard stresses that many teachers are leaving the profession due to the current compensation levels, leading to a possible teacher shortage. In fact, the South Carolina Department of Education reported 1,474 vacant teaching positions at the start of the 2022 school year. He believes that increased compensation could stem this tide.

Both lawmakers express their support for each other's bills, acknowledging that any improvement in teacher salaries would be a step in the right direction. Rep. Jefferson indicates that he would vote in favor of Rep. Gilliard's proposal, even though he considers the $70,000 minimum ideal but challenging to achieve.

The bills will be considered when the South Carolina House reconvenes during the second week of January. Education advocates and stakeholders will be eagerly watching the legislative session for any updates on these proposed minimum teacher salary bills.

Setting a higher minimum salary for teachers in South Carolina has become a crucial issue in order to address the challenges of teacher retention and attract highly qualified educators to the state's classrooms.