Compare · Virginia vs North Carolina
Fairfax County Public Schools vs Wake County Public School System
Side by side from the two published grids: Standard 195-day Teacher Scale (FY27, 2026-27) and 2026-2027 Classroom Teacher Salary Schedules. Green marks the higher figure (fewer steps to the top counts as higher).
- Fairfax County Public Schools starts at $63,599 and tops out at $136,647 (2026-27); Wake County Public School System starts at $55,339.90 and tops out at $89,917.60 (2026-27).
- Difference at the lowest cell: $8,259.10 in favor of Fairfax County Public Schools; at the highest cell: $46,729.40 in favor of Fairfax County Public Schools.
Fairfax County Public Schools
Wake County Public School System
| Measure | Fairfax County Public Schools | Wake County Public School System |
|---|---|---|
| School year | 2026-27 | 2026-27 |
| Effective date | July 1, 2026 | July 1, 2026 |
| Lowest cell (starting salary) | $63,599 | $55,339.90 |
| Bachelor's column start | $63,599 | $55,339.90 |
| Bachelor's column top | $114,470 | $73,399.20 |
| Master's column start | $69,959 | $61,101.50 |
| Master's column top | $130,140 | $81,072.30 |
| Highest cell | $136,647 | $89,917.60 |
| Steps to the highest cell | 26 | 32 |
| Columns x steps | 6 x 26 | 4 x 32 |
| Work days | 195 | – |
| Starting cell per work day | $326.15 | – |
| NCES enrollment 2023-24 | 180,714 | 161,481 |
Step ladder on the bachelor's (or lowest) column
Fairfax County Public Schools: BA. Wake County Public School System: Bachelor's Degree ("A" License), Not National Board Certified. 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 | Fairfax County Public Schools | Wake County Public School System |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1: $63,599 | 0: $55,339.90 |
| 2 | 5: $74,400 | 4: $56,942.50 |
| 3 | 10: $85,413 | 9: $60,001.80 |
| 4 | 15: $94,304 | 14: $65,379.70 |
| 5 | 20: $101,084 | 19: $67,593.80 |
| top row | 26: $114,470 | 31+: $73,399.20 |
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.