Compare · Florida vs Texas
School District of Palm Beach County vs Houston Independent School District
Side by side from the two published grids: New hire salary placement schedule (bachelor's degree), effective July 1, 2025 and Pay-for-Performance compensation table (2026-27). Green marks the higher figure (fewer steps to the top counts as higher).
- School District of Palm Beach County starts at $54,500 and tops out at $77,950 (2025-26); Houston Independent School District starts at $64,000 and tops out at $101,000 (2026-27).
- Difference at the lowest cell: $9,500 in favor of Houston Independent School District; at the highest cell: $23,050 in favor of Houston Independent School District.
- The two schedules are for different school years, so part of any gap is timing; each page shows its own effective date.
School District of Palm Beach County
Houston Independent School District
| Measure | School District of Palm Beach County | Houston Independent School District |
|---|---|---|
| School year | 2025-26 | 2026-27 |
| Effective date | July 1, 2025 | July 1, 2026 |
| Lowest cell (starting salary) | $54,500 | $64,000 |
| Bachelor's column start | – | – |
| Bachelor's column top | – | – |
| Master's column start | – | – |
| Master's column top | – | – |
| Highest cell | $77,950 | $101,000 |
| Steps to the highest cell | 15 | 6 |
| Columns x steps | 3 x 15 | 5 x 6 |
| Work days | – | – |
| Starting cell per work day | – | – |
| NCES enrollment 2023-24 | 189,777 | 184,109 |
Step ladder on the bachelor's (or lowest) column
School District of Palm Beach County: Base salary placement. Houston Independent School District: PFP Main. Rows are the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th step rows of each grid and its last row; steps are labeled as each district labels them.
| Row | School District of Palm Beach County | Houston Independent School District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0: $54,500 | Unsatisfactory: $64,000 |
| 2 | 15: $55,220 | Proficient II: $86,000 |
| 3 | 20: $60,100 | Exemplary I: $92,000 |
| 4 | 25: $67,950 | – |
| 5 | 25: $67,950 | – |
| top row | – | – |
Schedules differ in what they include (some districts fold supplements or pension pickups into the grid, some do not) and in the length of the work year, so a cell-to-cell comparison is a starting point, not a ranking of total pay. More: all comparisons, rankings.