2025-2026 proposed budget includes raises
The Dallas ISD’s proposed budget for the 2025-2026 school year includes a 2% raise for exempt campus and central team members, differentiated increases for team members in excellence initiatives, and an increase to $17 an hour in the district’s minimum wage.
The proposed increases in salaries for all team members amount to $35.9 million in the 2025-2026 budget and focus on the district’s compensation priorities: market competitive salaries, Dallas ISD’s commitment to a living wage, strategic compensation, and stipends for service at identified District Support Initiative campuses.
Increases for excellence initiatives
The proposed budget also sets the minimum teacher salary at $64,000 and has adjustments to the new hire schedule for teachers to match market rates. Returning teachers will receive a projected average teacher salary increase of approximately $2,235 or 3.6%, based on the greater of three increases:
- Change to effectiveness level
- Change to compensation level value
- Board approved differentiated salary increase (2% of compensation level)
Proposed TEI compensation levels
The proposed budget also includes increases for other employees who are evaluated through an excellence initiative—assistant principals, principals, school leadership executive directors. Increases for excellence initiative team members are paid in October 2025 retroactive to contract start date.
Minimum wage and other central increases
The proposed increase to $17 per hour in the minimum wage continues to place Dallas ISD as a regional leader in minimum wage among area school districts and primarily impacts support and operations team members.
Employees not on an excellence initiative will see the greater of two increases:
- Minimum wage adjustment to $17 per hour or
- 2% of the midpoint for support (non-exempt) employees and professional (exempt) employees
Campus and central team members who are not on an excellence initiative will see their increase reflected in their paychecks starting in September if they were hired before Dec. 31, 2024.
