Which Tri-Cities teachers made the most this year? Check out our education database
The average teacher from the Tri-Cities region took home about $87,500 this past school year.
That’s according to a salary data average calculated by the Tri-City Herald using the total salaries of more than 3,400 local teachers — including certificated, classified, substitutes and contracted.
They taught in Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, North Franklin, Prosser, Finley, Kiona-Benton City, Paterson, Columbia and Educational Service District 123
The data was published by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and reflects salary information from the 2022-23 school year.
In Washington state, the average full-time, certificated teacher had a base salary of $87,000 and took home about $95,600 in total earnings, according to OSPI.
OSPI said the average total salaries for full-time certified teachers in the Tri-Cities region were:
Richland: $96,600
Kennewick: $89,400
Pasco: $90,400
North Franklin: $84,800
Prosser: $86,000
Finley: $83,000
Kiona-Benton City: $89,400
Paterson: $64,700
Columbia (Burbank): $87,700
Some teachers’ total salaries are thousands of dollars higher than their listed base salary because they are paid extra for coaching contracts or to lead a department, which is outside of the 180 days they’re contractually obligated to teach. The salary information does not include their benefits packages.
Teacher salaries in Washington state continue to see modest increases even as the U.S. cools from historic nationwide inflation.
Gov. Jay Inslee earlier this year signed into law a 3.7% salary increase to help teachers deal with rising prices, which goes into effect this fall.
But salary decisions are largely made at the local level through collective bargaining agreements, said OSPI’s Executive Director of Communications Katy Payne.
Washington state law requires school districts pay certificated teachers at least $40,000 in annual salaries and adjust them for inflation and regional costs.
Overall, base salaries vary depending on their level of college education and their years of teaching experience.
Eight of the 10 highest paid elementary and secondary school teachers in the Tri-Cities are men with extracurricular contracts.
Tri-City salary floors
When it comes to certificated teachers who are fresh out of college, Richland paid the most this year.
That’s according to salary schedules negotiated between teacher unions and the school districts.
New teachers with a bachelor’s degree made $59,400 in Richland schools.
At Pasco schools, those same teachers made $57,500.
And Kennewick’s newest teachers started out at $55,300.
Ceiling base salaries in the Tri-Cities
Top-earning Richland teachers are earning a bit more than their peers in Pasco and Kennewick when it comes to comparing base annual salaries.
Richland educators at the top of the scale make a base salary of $104,800. Meanwhile, in Kennewick and Pasco, that number is closer to $102,300.
Finley and Prosser top earners make about $96,800 and $95,500, respectively.
North Franklin’s highest-paid teachers make about $100,700.
And in Kiona-Benton City School District, that number is about $99,400.
Across the river in Walla Walla County, top-earning teachers at Columbia School District take home about $99,200.
Searchable Salaries: Tri-Cities Area School Districts for 2022-23
Highest paid Richland teachers
David Holmberg, a Leona Libby Middle School computer science teacher, earned $139,300. That includes teaching an additional class period beyond the regular school day and a coaching stipend.
Travis McClelland, an Enterprise Middle School physical education teacher, earned $138,400. Included in that is a $20,400 stipend for being the school’s athletics director and a stipend for being a department head.
Dyan Woodward, Enterprise’s health teacher, earned $136,900 which also includes a coaching stipend and teaching an extra class period.
Kim Mayer, a Hanford High School language arts teacher, earned $135,700. She’s also a cheerleader coach and earned other coaching stipends and taught an additional class period.
Brian Sites, Hanford High School’s career specialist, earned $135,400. That includes teaching an extra class period and a bonus for holding a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.
Highest paid Pasco teachers
Allen Madsen, the Ochoa Middle School band teacher, earned $146,400. He also advises Chiawana High School Mariachi. He’s paid a bonus for holding a National Board certification, taught an extra class period and teaches several summer school sessions.
Kevin Clayton, Chiawana High School’s band director, earned $142,200. He holds three extracurricular contracts — for being the band director, marching band director assistant and department head. He also is National Board certified and works during the summer.
James Bennett, a McLoughlin Middle School music teacher, earned $138,600. He had an extracurricular band director contract, four assistant coaching contracts and taught an additional class period.
John Nelson, a Ray Reynolds Middle School music teacher, earned $135,600. He’s also holds a contract for being the school’s band director and four assistant coaching contracts.
Highest paid Kennewick teachers
Scott Biglin, Kamiakin High School physical education teacher, made $140,200, including extracurricular contracts as the head football coach, head bowling coach and as an assistant basketball coach.
Charles Hamaker-Teals, a Southridge High School social studies teacher, made $137,600. That includes pay for being head coach of the boys and girls tennis teams, the debate team, mock trial team and advising National Honor Society.
Chris Neese Blackman, a Southridge special education teacher, earned $136,300, including pay for a team lead contract.
Aaron Sonnichsen, a Southridge science teacher, earned $135,900, including pay for being a football coach and post-season pay.
Ryan McCallum, a Kamiakin business education teacher, earned $134,700, which included coaching the school’s football, wrestling and softball programs.
