Strike continues: How Sacramento City teacher pay, benefits compare with other districts

Sacramento City Unified teachers have been on strike for a week, largely over pay and benefits.

So how does their pay and benefits stack up against other districts in the region and the rest of the state? Broadly speaking, Sacramento City Unified spends less per pupil than other districts on teacher pay but more per pupil on benefits.

Teacher Pay

Sacramento City Unified spent about $4,409 per student on certificated teacher salaries in 2020-21, according to the latest data submitted by the district to the California Department of Education.

That’s pretty typical for the Sacramento region. Among the region’s six largest districts, spending per pupil on teacher salaries ranged from about $4,250 in Folsom Cordova Unified to $4,835 at Natomas Unified.

Districts statewide paid about $4,698 per student on teacher salaries in 2020-21.

Sacramento City Unified spending on teacher salaries has lagged behind the rest of the state for most of the last decade. The discrepancy was largest around 2014-2015, when the district spent nearly $450 less per student on teacher pay than districts statewide.

The gap narrowed to about $155 after a new teacher contract went into effect around 2018-19. But the disparity rose again in subsequent years as pay increases didn’t keep up with the rest of the state. In 2020-21, the district spent about $290 less per pupil on teacher salaries than districts statewide.

Spending per teacher is a broader measure than average teacher salaries, since it also takes into account staffing levels. The average teacher pay at Sacramento City Unified was about $83,400 last school year, lower than the statewide average of about $85,860.

Teacher Benefits

The state breaks spending on employee benefits into two categories – spending for certificated employees and spending for classified employees. The category of “certificated” employees includes more than just teachers – many principals and administrators also hold a teaching certificate. Teachers make up about nearly 80% of the certificated payroll at Sacramento City Unified.

Sacramento City Unified spends much more per student on certificated employee benefits than most other school districts. In 2020-21, the district spent about $3,385 per student on benefits. By comparison, districts statewide spent about $2,610 per student.

Sacramento City Unified spent significantly more per student on employee benefits than any other large district in the region.

Health insurance for current employees and retirees accounts for all of the difference. The amount spent by the district on pensions for certificated employees is in line with the state average.

Administrator Pay

Administrator pay often comes up during discussions about where the district can find more money for classroom instruction.

Sacramento City Unified spent about $694 per student on certificated and classified supervisor pay in 2020-21, less than the $751 spent by districts statewide.

Sacramento City Unified general fund spending on teacher salaries fell from $143.4 million in 2010-11 to $138.1 million in 2015-16, a decline of 4%. Over the same period, general fund spending on administrative salaries grew from about $21.7 million to $25.1 million, a rise of about 15%.

Since then, the trend has shifted. District general fund spending on teacher salaries rose from $138.1 million in 2015-16 to $168.5 million in 2020-21, an increase of 22%. Over the same period, general fund spending on administrative salaries grew from about $25.1 million to $26.5 million, a rise of about 6%.