Socio-Economic Challenges in the Education Sector: The Impact of Regional, Racial, and Gender-Based Disparities on Teachers’ Incomes

Gender and race-based disparities pose significant socioeconomic challenges in the labor market. This study examines race and gender-based income disparities among kindergarten to secondary (K-12) teachers in Tennessee, highlighting systemic inequities that persist despite structured salary schedules often implemented in the school districts. Using data from the American Community Survey for the year 2023 and restricting our sample to only college-educated K-12 teachers, our analysis reveals that male teachers consistently earn more than their female counterparts across all racial groups and metropolitan areas, suggesting deep-rooted structural factors disfavoring female teachers vis-à-vis male teachers. Additionally, racial pay gaps persist, with White teachers generally earning more than non-White teachers. However, Black male teachers in select regions surpass White male teachers in earnings, indicating possible diversity-focused recruitment efforts. Overall, black male teachers earn the highest in all categories of college-educated K-12 teachers in Tennessee. However, Black female teachers remain among the lowest-paid educators, demonstrating the compounding effects of race and gender-based inequities. Geographic disparities further exacerbate these issues. Nashville ‒ the state’s largest and fastest-growing metropolitan region ‒ offers relatively low teacher salaries despite rising living costs, posing potentially significant challenges for teacher retention. These findings underscore the need for systemic policy interventions, including salary audits, transparent leadership pathways, cost-of-living adjustments, and targeted retention incentives. Addressing these disparities and the socioeconomic challenges posed thereof are essential for ensuring fair compensation, a diverse teaching workforce, and long-term educational equity.