Teachers beginning their careers with Humble ISD may earn $63,700 or $64,000 in the 2023-24 school year—a proposed starting salary district officials said depends on the outcome of the 88th Texas Legislature.

The backstory: In the 2022-23 school year, HISD officials bumped the district's starting teacher salary from $59,000 in the 2021-22 school year to $62,100. District officials said the $3,100 increase was necessary for HISD to stay competitive with neighboring school districts.

In terms of starting teacher salary for the 2022-23 school year, HISD ranked:
  • Third in the state of Texas
  • Second in the Greater Houston area
  • First compared to the five largest school districts in Texas—Houston, Dallas, Cy-Fair, Katy and Northside ISDs
Current situation: In preparation for the 2023-24 school year, trustees held a special-called budget workshop May 23, during which district officials presented two possible compensation plans: Model 1, which would be implemented if the Legislature does not allocate school districts additional funding in the upcoming biennium, and Model 2, which would be implemented if the Legislature does allocate additional funding.
  • Model 1: As proposed, this compensation plan would cost an estimated $12.1 million, include a 3% general increase and bump HISD's starting teacher salary to $63,700.
  • Model 2: As proposed, this compensation plan would cost an estimated $15.7 million, include a 4% general increase and bump HISD's starting teacher salary to $64,000.
Quote of note: "My first year of teaching, I made $19,000," HISD Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen said during the budget workshop. "So I think there's a lot of positive on the horizon for teachers."

The details: In addition to increasing salaries for teachers, HISD officials also proposed salary increases for several other district professions. Among those changes, district officials proposed to:
  • Increase the minimum wage for bus drivers to $20 per hour
  • Continue incrementally moving towards a $15 per hour minimum wage for office professionals, paraeducators, custodians, bus assistants and child nutrition workers
  • Increase student teacher pay from $60 per day to $100 per day
What's next: The 88th Texas Legislature will conclude May 29. As previously reported by Community Impact, HISD trustees will consider formally adopting the district's 2023-24 budget in June.