How to read this
Every district here pays an advanced degree as a flat amount added to base salary each year, separate from the salary schedule. Specialist degrees and doctorates add more. The amounts are set in each district's contract with its teachers' union and can change year to year. Under s. 1012.22(1)(c)3., Florida Statutes, a district may pay the supplement only for a degree in the teacher's certification area.
The supplement is the same whether you're in your first year or your twentieth, so it matters most in districts where base pay is low. To see what a degree means for you, pick your degree in the salary calculator.
Common questions
How much more do Florida teachers make with a master's degree?
$1,000 to $5,000 a year among the districts we track (median $2,950), depending on the district. Specialist degrees and doctorates add more.
Does any master's degree count?
No. Florida law (s. 1012.22, Florida Statutes) lets districts pay the supplement only for a degree in the teacher's certification area. Many districts apply that to teachers hired on or after July 1, 2011; each district page notes its rule.
Is a master's degree worth it for a Florida teacher?
Over a 30-year career the supplement adds up to $30,000 in Hillsborough and $150,000 in Sarasota, before raises. Compare that with the cost of the degree; each district page works out the payback.