How does New Hampshire measure up in the struggle to attract and retain teachers?

May 7th, 2025

According to a national report by the Learning Policy Institute, New Hampshire is one of the most attractive and equitable states in the country, but it has some of the least attractive starting salaries and wage competitiveness.

About the Report

The Learning Policy Institute’s The State of the Teacher Workforce offers a State-by-State Analysis of the Factors Influencing Teacher Shortages, Supply, Demand, and Equity. The 2024 report paints a picture of the appeal of the teaching profession in a given state and where states like New Hampshire can further invest to improve. 

“This map highlights key factors available from national data that reflect and influence the supply and demand for teachers in each state, including conditions of teachers’ work and equitable access to qualified teachers.”

Source: The State of the Teacher Workforce

One of the nation's lowest starting salaries and wage competitiveness

The State of the Teacher Workforce reports that the average starting salary for a teacher, when adjusted for cost-of-living differences, in New Hampshire is $38,640 annually. Nationally, starting salaries average $44,530 or nearly $6,000 more per year. Therefore, 22% of New Hampshire teachers reported earning additional compensation from working a job outside of the school system during the school year. That is higher than the national average.

The effect of low starting salaries for the teaching profession can be seen most acutely in the Teacher Pipeline. New Hampshire has seen a 22% drop in the number of enrollees from the state’s teacher preparation programs.

The Committee to Study New Hampshire Teacher Shortages and Recruitment Incentives

The Committee to Study New Hampshire Teacher Shortages and Recruitment Incentives was created in 2022 by Senate Bill (SB) 236 to examine the current state of the educator workforce, as well as identify strategies for recruiting and retaining teachers of color and educators to work in rural and underserved school districts. 

The Committee had four goals that are outlined in the text of the bill:

  • Study New Hampshire teacher shortages since 2018 and expected retirements through 2026.

  • Identify strategies for attracting more qualified candidates into the profession to fill shortage areas with particular attention to attracting underrepresented minorities and filling positions in rural districts and districts with lower performance outcomes.

  • Evaluate recruitment incentives used in other states, such as loan forgiveness, housing assistance, tuition reimbursements, and scholarships to help fill shortages, and consider how such incentives might be offered and funded in New Hampshire, such as upon initial licensure and employment in the state.

  • Identify strategies for retaining currently licensed and practicing teachers.

The committee issued its final report on November 30, 2023. It included the following recommendations:

  1. Invest in proven recruitment and retention strategies at the state level should be pursued.

  2. Establish a rural and underserved area educator incentive program for higher education and making an appropriation therefore for districts to experiment with recruitment strategies.

  3. Introduce legislation to increase reciprocity for New Hampshire’s credentials and revise the standards for endorsements.

  4. Introduce legislation to increase education funding for smaller communities to expand their capacity to retain educators and to develop robust “grow your own” programs.

  5. Introduce legislation to increase support and public awareness of programs at career and technical education centers to increase the number of individuals entering the profession through the Careers in Education Programs offered directly to high school students.

  6. Offer professional development and post-secondary teacher preparation programs on how to address controversial topics while encouraging critical thinking skills with pupils.

  7. Continue communication and working with the NHSAA and the NH School Board Association (NHSBA) to address the issue of educator retention and shortages.

  8. Encourage the NH Retirement System to review its benefits and consider making it more competitive with neighboring states.

  9. Encourage the NH Department of Education to promote state and federal resources to mental health support for teachers.

  10. Develop and support “grow your own” teacher preparation programs that start the process of becoming an educator with high school students.

Strategies and Developments

In 2024, New Hampshire lawmakers began implementing several of the recommendations of the study committee. In 2023, they approved a program that would provide student loan forgiveness for teachers who teach in rural and underserved schools. In 2024, they passed the creation of an induction program for new teachers that emphasizes mentorship and partnerships with the community, which has been shown to increase teacher attrition and job satisfaction.

Although it is not included in the final majority report from 2023, a recommendation that was extensively discussed in the committee and has yet to be addressed is the concern about the impact of controversial legislation on the profession. Many speakers, including educators, school leaders, and community members, spoke to the committee about the negative impact that the “divisive concepts” law and similar legislation are having on teachers. 

As of 2025, the legislature continues to propose harmful legislation that could affect teachers. Here are some of the bills we are tracking this session: 

  • HB 324 – Book Ban: This bill introduces potential criminal and licensing penalties for educators within an otherwise vaguely defined process created by national interest groups nationwide.

  • HB 235 – Educator Code of Conduct: This bill raises significant concerns because the Educator Code of Conduct is linked to state licensure and the Department of Education's ability to investigate and take action on educator licenses.

  • HB 520 -- NHED Subpoena Power: The bill would allow the Commissioner of Education or their designee to issue subpoenas when carrying out investigations under the educator code of conduct.

Find the full list of 2025 legislation impacting NH Teachers here: https://fastdemocracy.com/shared-bills/?sharing-bill-list-id=VoRav0gCumcR 

Next Steps

Reaching Higher NH believes that all students deserve access to a high-quality, engaging education with well-prepared and supported teachers. This goal requires equitable, adequate investments in our schools, our communities, and our institutions to ensure that there is a thriving teacher and school staff pipeline. 

To that end, there are a number of evidence-based strategies to effectively recruit, retain, and develop teachers and school staff, including:

  • Ensuring that teachers and school staff are compensated equitably and competitively.

  • Investing in preparatory programs, building strong pathways, and incentivizing future teachers to enter the field. 

  • Ensuring that teachers and school staff are prepared and supported, through mentorships and residencies.

  • Creating a school climate that respects teachers by providing them with the materials they need, giving them a manageable workload, and offering opportunities for advancement and shared leadership. 

Other states have implemented these strategies through state and local policy making, and some work is already being done throughout New Hampshire at the district level.

Our team will continue to monitor state level policy to identify opportunities to better support and grow New Hampshire’s educator workforce.

Have a question? Contact us.  Stay in the know and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and join the New Hampshire Education Network (NHEN), our network of New Hampshire parents, educators, business leaders, and community members to stay up to date on the latest developments in education policy.