Police, teachers, state workers set to get raises in NC budget deal. When and how much
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lawmakers set a $48,000 base starting teacher salary, with supplements about $53,000.
- Teachers will receive an average 8% raise and tiered one‑time bonuses by experience.
- Law enforcement will get large raises, averaging 13% with some units above 20%.
After nearly a year without across-the-board raises, teachers and state employees would receive raises this summer if a deal top Republican lawmakers announced on Tuesday becomes law.
House Speaker Destin Hall and Senate leader Phil Berger broke through their budget impasse, and while there’s no budget bill yet, they have decided on the amounts of raises. Raises and taxes have been a primary reason for the long delay in reaching a budget deal.
Law enforcement officers would get the biggest raises.
Here’s the breakdown of raises and bonuses for teachers, state employees and retirees.
When raises go into effect
Lawmakers’ deal would provide both recurring raises that would start in the new fiscal year, and one-time bonuses meant to make up for the lack of raises this past year. No retroactive raises are expected, as Hall and Berger see the bonuses as money to account for this current fiscal year that ends in June.
If the budget becomes law before July 1, bonuses will be given out on July 1. If the budget becomes law later, bonuses will be effective when it passes.
The agreement has not yet been documented in legislation. The money will be appropriated as part of the comprehensive budget bill that could become law by late June or July. Berger told reporters he thinks it can be done by the middle of June, which is four weeks away. Republicans control both the House and Senate. After they pass a budget bill, it must go to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who has 10 days to sign, veto or let it become law without his signature.
Starting and veteran teacher raises and bonuses
Berger and Hall agreed to a starting teacher annual salary of $48,000. That’s higher than what the Senate wanted, but lower than what the House had previously proposed. The current base starting salary in North Carolina is $41,000.
Along with local supplements, lawmakers expect most starting teacher salaries to be about $53,000.
The pay increase for starting teachers would lift North Carolina in the South’s salary rankings. Recent data from the National Association of Educators ranked the state 46th in overall teacher pay this year, and 43rd the prior year.
In late 2025, the General Assembly authorized step-increase raises for teachers — which are based on longevity — but teachers with 16 to 24 years of experience hit a salary plateau and did not get any raise.
Here’s the rest of the raises and bonuses:
- An average 8% raise for teachers.
- A one-time bonus of $1,000 for teachers with more than 16 years of experience.
- A $500 bonus for teachers with less than 16 years’ experience.
Two top House budget writers, Republican Reps. Dean Arp and Donny Lambeth, told The News & Observer on Wednesday that principals and other school personnel would receive 3% raises under the deal.
“Our philosophy is we want to fund education that includes Opportunity Scholarships, letting parents decide whether kids go to school, but at the same time, making sure you’re taking care of the public schools, keeping them at the right market pay,” Hall said after the House session on Tuesday. Opportunity Scholarships are private school vouchers funded by taxes. He also said they want to prevent new teachers from moving to other nearby states.
“You’re looking at states like South Carolina and Virginia and Tennessee and especially border counties — they’re having in particular starting teachers go across the line,” he said, for higher paying jobs.
Raises and bonuses for state employees
Here’s what all state employees and retirees are set to receive under the deal:
- A 3% raise for all state employees.
- A bonus of $1,750 for employees making less than $65,000 a year and a $1,000 bonus for those making higher salaries.
- A 2.5% one-time bonus for retired state employees.
Higher raises for law enforcement, and bonuses for local police
Republicans and Democrats have been sounding the alarm on the need for raises for law enforcement, including State Highway Patrol troopers. Law enforcement officers will get a minimum raise of 13%, Hall said.
Here are the raises for various types of law enforcement:
- 20.3% raises on average for State Bureau of Investigation and Alcohol Law Enforcement sworn officers.
- 17.7% on average with step increases for State Highway Patrol officers.
- 15.4% on average for correctional officers.
- 10.1% on average, including step increases, for probation and patrol officers.
- An average 13% raise for State Capitol Police and other law enforcement in state government agencies.
- Local law enforcement officers would also receive a $1,750 bonus from the state.
This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 1:11 PM.
