Delaware Teacher Pay Scale

Starting Salary and How the Scale Works

Delaware's minimum starting salary for a certified teacher with a bachelor's degree is $46,851 per year. On a standard 185-day contract, that works out to approximately $253 per day.

The state salary schedule is a step-and-lane grid. Steps correspond to years of credited teaching experience. Lanes correspond to your highest degree — a master's degree moves you to a higher lane with a larger base at every step. Districts can negotiate supplements above the state minimum through collective bargaining, so actual pay varies by district.

What Drives Your Placement

Three factors determine where you land on the scale:

Degree level. Bachelor's, master's, and doctorate holders each occupy a different lane. A master's degree doesn't just increase your starting salary — it compounds across every subsequent experience step.

Credited experience. Delaware counts verified teaching experience toward your salary step. Out-of-state experience transfers if verified through Form E, which must be submitted during your initial application. After holding your Delaware license for more than one year, Form E can no longer be used to adjust your salary placement.

Additional certifications. National Board Certification (NBPTS) unlocks both the ten-year Advanced License and a state salary supplement. The supplement under recent legislation can reach up to $5,000 for educators taking on additional responsibility assignments that directly impact student achievement.

The Cost of Certification Delays

If your DEEDS application stalls — missing documents, Form E rejection, processing backlog during the June–September peak — the district can only pay you as a substitute. A Class C substitute earns $113 per day against a certified teacher's $253. That $140 daily gap adds up fast: a two-week delay costs over $1,400 in lost wages.

Beyond the Base Salary

The $100 state application fee is reimbursable under House Bill 307 once you're employed by a Delaware public or charter school and fully licensed and certified. Graduate coursework can count toward both salary advancement and the 90 clock hours required for Continuing License renewal — one semester credit equals 15 professional development hours.

For a breakdown of every cost in the certification process and the steps to avoid salary-placement delays, the Delaware Teacher Certification Guide walks through the complete financial picture from application to first paycheck.

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