Lubbock Teachers to Receive 13% Raise as District Boosts Pay to Recruit, Retain Staff

The Board of Trustees for the Lubbock Independent School District voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to give teachers and staff what administrators are calling a "historic raise."

According to a news release from the district, qualified teachers will get a 13% raise starting in September. New teachers will start at $50,900. Instructional support staff will get a 14% boost, bringing their beginning compensation to $13.50 an hour. Other workers will receive a 3% hike.

In September 2025, the raises should show up in paychecks. Employees who were paid on separate days will have their adjustments back to the date they were due.

Beth Bridges, the president of the board, stated that the move shows a commitment to helping teachers. In the announcement, she stated, "We have always been committed to our teachers so that we can keep rewarding them for building the workforce of the future."

The percentage raises did not include adjunct teachers, as Texas Education Agency standards do not classify them as teachers of record. However, the district stated that adjunct teachers would receive financial assistance to help them complete their teacher credentials.

According to authorities, the raises will add around $7.5 million to the district's budget. They are meant to help the district hire and keep teachers during a time when there are not enough teachers in Texas. House Bill 2, a statute that provides money for schools, helped make the pay plan viable.

Superintendent Doug Young stated that the strategy makes it easier for the district to hire new teachers while still acknowledging the efforts of current personnel. "This is a big step toward making sure we stay competitive and keep giving Lubbock students the best education possible," he added.

As school districts across Texas try to find a way to balance limited state money with the requirement to pay competitive salaries, the pay plan comes out. Trustees said they want to reward current employees and cut down on turnover by upping both the beginning pay and the hourly compensation for support staff.

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