KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) New Hampshire faces ongoing challenges recruiting and retaining teachers, with relatively low starting salaries, rising housing and childcare costs, and disparities in local school funding contributing to the problem, according to a state policy analyst who appeared Monday on WKBK Radio.

Ben Reynolds, a senior policy analyst with the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI), discussed the state’s educator workforce and findings from the institute’s recent research during an appearance on Good Morning with Dan Mitchell.

The report draws on state and federal data to examine teacher workforce projections, compensation, and the factors affecting the state’s ability to attract and retain educators.

Most Teacher Openings Expected to Come from Departures

New Hampshire is projected to have approximately 1,114 annual openings for kindergarten, elementary, middle and secondary school teachers through 2034, Reynolds said.

About 95% of those openings are expected to result from teachers leaving the profession or exiting the workforce, rather than from newly created positions.

The report also points to an aging education workforce. The percentage of New Hampshire elementary and secondary school workers age 55 or older increased from 22.1% in 2004 to 33.7% in 2025.

At the same time, the number of people completing education degrees at New Hampshire colleges and universities has fallen by half over the past decade, raising questions about the pipeline of future teachers.

Although the number of subject-area endorsements identified as shortages declined from 50 in 2019 to 23 in 2025, gaps remain in several specialized fields. Those include chemistry, physics, life sciences, computer science and upper-level mathematics.

Reynolds emphasized that recruiting educators is only part of the challenge. Retaining experienced teachers also matters, as established educators can support student learning and help newer colleagues develop their skills.

Pay is one consideration, but workplace support and opportunities to build strong relationships with fellow teachers also influence whether educators stay in their jobs.

New Hampshire Lags in Starting Pay

Compensation remains a significant concern for prospective teachers in New Hampshire.

The state ranked 42nd nationally for average starting teacher salary during the 2024-2025 school year, placing it behind neighboring Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts.

The report also found that New Hampshire teachers earned approximately 33.8% less per week than comparable college graduates working in other professions. The comparable wage gaps were 21% in Maine, 23% in Massachusetts and 12% in Vermont.

Those differences can make teaching less financially attractive, particularly for recent college graduates weighing career options and the cost of establishing a household.

Starting salaries also vary considerably among New Hampshire school districts, in part because of differences in local property-tax revenue and the resources available to individual communities.

For the 2025-2026 school year, reported starting salaries ranged from $36,148 in Bath to $59,396 in Newcastle.

The contrast also appears in neighboring communities. Franklin’s starting salary was $39,990, compared with $51,830 in the Winnesquam Regional School District.

Such disparities highlight how local funding structures can affect teacher compensation, potentially making some districts more competitive than others when recruiting educators.

During the interview, Mitchell also referenced a WalletHub ranking that placed New Hampshire last among the states and Washington, D.C., for teachers to live and work.

Housing and Childcare Add to Financial Pressures

Teacher salaries must also be considered alongside the rising cost of living.

According to the institute’s report, New Hampshire’s median single-family home sale price increased 71% between 2019 and 2025.

Childcare presents another substantial expense for educators with young families. In 2025, annual center-based care for one infant and one 4-year-old exceeded $30,000.

Together, housing and childcare costs can make it difficult for teachers, particularly those early in their careers, to afford to live in the communities where they work.

The challenges also raise broader questions about how New Hampshire can maintain a strong educator workforce while ensuring that school districts have the resources to offer competitive compensation.

Questions for Future Research

The interview also touched on areas that were not addressed in the institute’s report.

For example, the research did not compare the age trends among educators with those in other occupations, nor did it examine salary differences among teachers in traditional public schools, charter public schools and private schools. Those questions could be explored in future research.

Reynolds also discussed the issue of allowing people without traditional teaching credentials to enter classrooms. He did not recall the outcome of a legislative bill concerning non-credentialed teachers but stressed the importance of providing appropriate training and support if that pathway is used.

Looking ahead, the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute may turn its attention to the costs facing school districts and how education spending has changed over time.

That work could examine where school costs are rising or falling and how funding trends affect districts as state and local officials prepare for upcoming budget seasons.

The research would provide additional context for discussions about school funding, teacher pay and the resources needed to recruit and retain qualified educators throughout New Hampshire.

Listen to the full interview: