Chelsea Chambers is a contributor to the National Education Association’s neaToday, where this was first published.
Teacher burnout and low pay have been affecting educators across the nation, pushing many of them to leave the profession or at least seriously consider doing so. Teacher retention has always been a challenge, but the factors and conditions that have driven so many out of the classroom were worsened by the pandemic.
In 2025, there may be signs of progress. According to a new survey by RAND, teachers are less likely to leave their jobs. However, concern about their well-being persists and may be on the rise.
The State of the American Teacher Survey (a survey of 1,419 kindergarten-12th grade public school teachers across the country, funded in part by the National Education Association) found that 16% of teachers reported an intention to leave by the end of the 2024-25 year — a decline of 6% from 2023-24.
Teacher retention and pay
Over the past few years, thanks in large part to the advocacy of educators and their unions, teacher pay has been increasing. According to the RAND survey, teachers reported a base salary of $73,000 in 2025, an increase of 4% from 2024, which mirrors the average salary reported in the NEA’s most recent data. Teachers in states where collective bargaining is required reported earning an average of about $81,200, which is $20,900, or 27%, more in base pay than teachers reported in states where bargaining is prohibited. Teachers in those states noted an average of $60,300.
Overall, 52% of teachers in bargaining-prohibited states did not report pay increases.
In states where bargaining is permitted but not required, teachers reported slightly higher average base pays of $63,900.
In the survey, teachers reported working 49 hours per week — a slight decline in recent years but still 10 hours above their contracted hours. Between lesson planning, grading and other administrative tasks, educators experience unduly heavy workloads as they address student needs.
Teacher well-being
Whether it’s due to student behavior, workload or lower pay, teachers are reporting high stress levels. In 2025, 62% of teachers noted frequent job-related stress, compared to 33% of similar working adults. The RAND survey stated that the share of teachers reporting frequent job stress in 2025 remained similar to levels reported in 2024 and ’23. About 21% of teachers found difficulty in coping with job-related stress — significantly higher than other working adults.
Additionally, 53% of teachers said they felt burned out, a drop of 7% from 2024. However, female teachers are consistently more likely to report experiencing frequent job-related stress and burnout than male teachers are.
The RAND survey also asked teachers about the causes of stress. Fifty-two percent of educators said their stress stems from managing student behavior. Low pay was cited by 39%. Some other factors included preparing students for state standardized tests, working outside contract hours, supporting students’ mental health and well-being, and performing administrative work outside of teaching.
In other surveys, poor working conditions are often cited by educators as the top reason they leave or may leave their jobs — more so than low pay. This is why National Education Association members have put issues such as mental health support, class size, teacher autonomy and healthy learning environments on the bargaining table and on the agendas of local and state lawmakers.
Black and Brown educators: lower pay and higher stress
The RAND survey found that low pay and job-related stress are disproportionately affecting teachers of color. For example, Black educators reported earning an average of $4,400 less than their White counterparts. White teachers reported a base salary of $73,100, while Black educators reported $68,700. Black female teachers experience an even wider gap.
Black and Brown educators are also more likely to report an intent to leave their jobs compared to their White counterparts. Twenty-eight percent of Black teachers and 23% of Hispanic teachers say they may leave, compared to 14% for their White counterparts.
These educators also reported higher rates of depression, stress and burnout. For the 2023-24 year, 51% of Black teachers reported frequent job-related stress. Fifty-nine percent of Hispanic/Latino educators also reported job related stress.
In 2024-25, 56% of Black teachers and 66% of Hispanic/Latino teachers reported job-related stress. Twenty-five percent of Black teachers and 25% of Hispanic teachers reported symptoms of depression, compared to 18% of their White counterparts. Fifty-eight percent of Hispanic teachers and 59% of Black teachers reported burnout for the 2024-25 year — still 5 percentage points higher than White teachers.
Instructors of color also reported being less satisfied with their work hours. Forty-three percent of Black teachers said they were satisfied with their working hours, compared to the 54% of White teachers who were.
Similarly to Black teachers, only 41% of Hispanic/Latino teachers found themselves satisfied with their working hours. According to the RAND survey report, “It is possible that systematic differences in teaching experience or residence in a state that requires, allows, or prohibits bargaining could explain some of these differences between White teachers and Black and Hispanic teachers.”
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
