Greenwood Measure to Raise Minimum Teacher Salary to $40,000 Now Law

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Expressing appreciation for the value that teachers bring to the classroom, state Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, is highlighting the signing of legislation to increase the state’s minimum salary for teachers.

“Teachers play an instrumental role in the lives of every resident, and often their contributions are overlooked,” Greenwood said. “It was time to raise our state’s minimum teacher salary requirements to reflect the needs of today, and I am hopeful that it will work to address our teacher shortage while also giving our newest teachers a better standard of living that they deserve.”

Greenwood served as a chief sponsor of House Bill 2078, which gradually increases the state’s minimum salary for teachers to $40,000 beginning in the 2023-24 school year. Increases afterwards would be based on the Consumer Price Index. This year’s legislation is the first update in decades to the state’s minimum teacher salary, and is designed in part to attract more teachers to Illinois schools. According to data this past year from the Illinois State Board of Education, there were over 1,400 unfilled teacher positions in the state.

“We need to prioritize investment in our education system to secure the best possible future for our children,” Greenwood said. “This starts with us investing in the best possible instructors and ensuring that their pay reflects the value we see in them.”