Compare · North Carolina vs North Carolina
Wake County Public School System vs Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Side by side from the two published grids: 2026-2027 Classroom Teacher Salary Schedules and Certified Salary Schedules (2026-2027). Green marks the higher figure (fewer steps to the top counts as higher).
- Wake County Public School System starts at $55,339.90 and tops out at $89,917.60 (2026-27); Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools starts at $56,341 and tops out at $94,490 (2026-27).
- Difference at the lowest cell: $1,001.10 in favor of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools; at the highest cell: $4,572.40 in favor of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
Wake County Public School System
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
| Measure | Wake County Public School System | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
|---|---|---|
| School year | 2026-27 | 2026-27 |
| Effective date | July 1, 2026 | July 1, 2026 |
| Lowest cell (starting salary) | $55,339.90 | $56,341 |
| Bachelor's column start | $55,339.90 | $56,341 |
| Bachelor's column top | $73,399.20 | $74,721 |
| Master's column start | $61,101.50 | $62,233 |
| Master's column top | $81,072.30 | $82,555 |
| Highest cell | $89,917.60 | $94,490 |
| Steps to the highest cell | 32 | 32 |
| Columns x steps | 4 x 32 | 8 x 51 |
| Work days | – | – |
| Starting cell per work day | – | – |
| NCES enrollment 2023-24 | 161,481 | 144,116 |
Step ladder on the bachelor's (or lowest) column
Wake County Public School System: Bachelor's Degree ("A" License), Not National Board Certified. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: Bachelor "A". 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 | Wake County Public School System | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0: $55,339.90 | 0: $56,341 |
| 2 | 4: $56,942.50 | 4: $57,650 |
| 3 | 9: $60,001.80 | 9: $61,024 |
| 4 | 14: $65,379.70 | 14: $66,116 |
| 5 | 19: $67,593.80 | 19: $69,030 |
| top row | 31+: $73,399.20 | 50: $74,721 |
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.