In Florida, a master's degree doesn't move you to a higher salary schedule. It adds a flat yearly supplement to your base pay, and the amount depends entirely on your district: from $1,000 in Hillsborough to $5,000 in Sarasota. Whether it's worth it comes down to that number and what the degree costs you.
| # | District | Per year | Pays for itself in | Over 30 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sarasota | $5,000 | 3.0 years | $135,000 |
| 2 | Broward | $3,650 | 4.1 years | $94,500 |
| 3 | Orange | $3,517 | 4.3 years | $90,510 |
| 4 | Collier | $3,500 | 4.3 years | $90,000 |
| 5 | Miami-Dade | $3,410 | 4.4 years | $87,300 |
| 6 | Palm Beach | $3,000 | 5.0 years | $75,000 |
| 7 | Lake | $3,000 | 5.0 years | $75,000 |
| 8 | St. Lucie | $3,000 | 5.0 years | $75,000 |
| 9 | Osceola | $2,900 | 5.2 years | $72,000 |
| 10 | Pasco | $2,700 | 5.6 years | $66,000 |
| 11 | Lee | $2,531.25 | 5.9 years | $60,938 |
| 12 | Pinellas | $2,251 | 6.7 years | $52,530 |
| 13 | Clay | $2,000 | 7.5 years | $45,000 |
| 14 | Leon | $1,800 | 8.3 years | $39,000 |
| 15 | Duval | $1,150 | 13 years | $19,500 |
| 16 | Hillsborough | $1,000 | 15 years | $15,000 |
Before taxes and raises. "Over 30 years" is the supplement over a 30-year career minus the cost.
| District | Master's | Specialist | Doctorate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarasota | $5,000 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Broward | $3,650 | $6,800 | $8,000 |
| Orange | $3,517 | $5,396 | $7,115 |
| Collier | $3,500 | $4,000 | $5,000 |
| Miami-Dade | $3,410 | $5,665 | $7,920 |
| Palm Beach | $3,000 | $4,500 | $6,000 |
| Lake | $3,000 | $3,950 | $5,000 |
| St. Lucie | $3,000 | $5,200 | $6,200 |
| Osceola | $2,900 | $4,185 | $5,685 |
| Pasco | $2,700 | $4,400 | $5,400 |
| Lee | $2,531.25 | $4,050 | $5,062.50 |
| Pinellas | $2,251 | $3,459 | $4,646 |
| Clay | $2,000 | $2,700 | $3,300 |
| Leon | $1,800 | $3,600 | $5,400 |
| Duval | $1,150 | $1,380 | $1,725 |
| Hillsborough | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 |
In a district that pays $5,000 a year, a reasonably priced in-field degree pays for itself in a few years and keeps paying for the rest of your career. In a district that pays $1,000, it can take a decade or more. If you might move, compare total pay rather than the supplement alone: a district with a smaller supplement can still pay more overall. The salary calculator includes degree pay, and the master's pay ranking lists every district.
From $1,000 a year in Hillsborough to $5,000 in Sarasota, among the districts we track. It's a flat supplement added to base pay every year.
Florida law lets districts pay the supplement only for a degree in your certification area (s. 1012.22, Florida Statutes). Several districts still pay teachers hired before July 1, 2011 for degrees outside their field.
Divide what the degree costs you by the yearly supplement. At an example cost of $15,000, that's about 3.0 years in Sarasota and 15 years in Hillsborough, before taxes.
Districts negotiate pay every year. We'll email you when the new schedule is out, with what changed for your experience level. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.
Signup opens soon.