“Thanks to (North Carolina’s) governor and the legislature, the average teacher salary can barely support a family.”
— Hillary Clinton in a speech before
swing state voters in Raleigh, NC
Clinton said the average North Carolina teacher’s salary “can barely support a family” and placed the blame squarely on Gov. Pat McCrory and Republican legislators.
The average teacher salary of just less than $48,000 is higher than what most households around the state make per year. Yet it’s also right around what’s considered the bare minimum “living wage” for a couple with two kids.
Clinton, however, muddles the political blame. Average teacher pay did hit its lowest point when Republicans controlled both the governor’s office and General Assembly. Yet the only actual salary cuts happened under Democratic control. And more recently, Republicans have raised teacher pay almost back to pre-recession levels.
We rate this claim Mostly False.