Sen. Pierce unveils key legislation to increase minimum teacher salary, grow and retain educator workforce
AUGUSTA — On February 27, 2025, Maine Senate Majority Leader Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth, introduced LD 34, An Act to Increase the Minimum Salary for Teachers, before the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee.
“Right now, educators are leaving the field, and not enough of our young adults are considering teaching as a profession to fill those open positions. They cite low pay as the number one reason,” said Sen. Pierce. “L.D. 34 is an opportunity to invest in the success and well-being of future generations, across this state. When I sponsored an identical bill last session, it received unanimous approval in both the House and Senate. I look forward to working with the committee to deliver this session for Maine teachers, students and families.”
L.D. 34, as written, would incrementally increase minimum teacher salaries beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. As a member of the Maine House, Sen. Pierce voted to raise the minimum teacher salary to $40,000 in 2019. In the 131st Legislature, Sen. Pierce sponsored L.D. 1064, which also proposed raising the minimum teacher salary to $50,000. It received unanimous approval in the Senate and House, but was not funded and died on the Special Appropriations Table.
L.D. 34 faces further action in Committee. To follow this bill, click here.
