School district · Tennessee · LEAID 4703450

Polk County

Estimated average teacher salary of $73,659, per-pupil spending, enrollment, and budget for Polk County — from the NCES Common Core of Data F-33 finance survey (FY2022).

$73,659
Est. avg teacher salary
$12,511
Per-pupil spending
2,147
Students enrolled
85th
Pct. in TN

Avg Teacher Salary

$73,659

Estimated from instructional expenditure / FTE

Per-Pupil Spending

$12,511

Total expenditure / enrollment

Student Enrollment

2,147 students

Salary vs State Average 100.0%

10.5% above Tennessee average

What the Numbers Say About Polk County

Polk County is a small school district in Tennessee, serving 2,147 students at an estimated per-pupil spending of $12,511. Estimated average teacher salary — derived from instructional expenditure variable Z33 divided by teacher FTE — is $73,659, placing the district in the lower-spending tier of NCES F-33 respondents. NCES LEAID 4703450 references the FY2022 Common Core of Data Local Education Agency Finance Survey.

Relative to the Tennessee statewide average of $66,654, teacher pay in Polk County runs meaningfully above the state benchmark — a 10.5% gap, and below the national instructional-salary estimate of $82,292 (10.5% differential). Among enrolling districts in Tennessee, it pays more than 85% of them. Licensing reciprocity, collective bargaining strength, and state aid formulas all contribute to where a district lands in these tiers.

On the budget side, Polk County reports $26.9M in total expenditure against $29.0M in revenue, with instructional salaries accounting for 39% of spending — a compensation-to-budget ratio that signals how much of each tax dollar reaches classroom educators. Regular-program teacher salary outlay is $7.4M, special-education teacher pay is $0.8M. These figures are district-level aggregates from F-33, not individual contracts — step-and-column schedules, stipends, and collectively-bargained differentials sit underneath these totals.

How does Polk County compare?

Estimated average teacher salary versus a peer district, the Tennessee average, and the national average. Pick any in-state district to compare.

Polk County $73,659
Shelby County $71,074
Tennessee avg $66,654
National avg $82,292

Polk County pays +3.6% more than Shelby County · per-pupil $12,511 vs $15,292

Estimated from NCES F-33 instructional salary expenditure (FY2022). Service entities excluded; estimates assume a 15:1 ratio.

Revenue & Expenditure

$29.0M
Total Revenue
$26.9M
Total Expenditure
$10.5M
Instruction Salaries
39% of total spending

Instructional Salary by Program

$7.4M
Regular Program
$0.8M
Special Education
$0.6M
Vocational
$0.1M
Other Programs

About This Data

Source: NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, Fiscal Year 2022.

Methodology: Average salary figures are estimates derived from total instructional salary expenditure (variable Z33) divided by estimated teacher FTE. These are district-level aggregates — not individual salary records.

Coverage: Data covers public school districts in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Private schools are not included.

Limitations: Instructional salary data includes classroom teachers and some instructional aides depending on district reporting practices. Salary figures may differ from collectively-bargained salary schedules.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average teacher salary in Polk County?

The estimated average teacher salary in Polk County is $73,659 (NCES CCD FY2022). This is based on total instructional salary expenditure divided by estimated teacher FTE.

How does Polk County teacher pay compare to the Tennessee average?

Polk County pays 10.5% more than the Tennessee state average of $66,654. The district's estimated average is $73,659.

How does Polk County teacher pay compare to the national average?

Polk County pays 10.5% below the national F-33 estimate of $82,292. The district estimated average is $73,659.

What is the per-pupil spending in Polk County?

Polk County spends approximately $12,511 per student annually (NCES FY2022). This includes instructional salaries, support services, and administration.

How many students are enrolled in Polk County?

Polk County has 2,147 students enrolled according to NCES CCD FY2022 data.

What percentage of Polk County's budget goes to teacher salaries?

Instructional salaries account for 39% of Polk County's total expenditure of $26.9M (NCES FY2022).

Where does this teacher salary data come from?

This data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, Fiscal Year 2022. Salary figures are estimates derived from instructional expenditure data (variable Z33) divided by estimated teacher FTE. These are district-level aggregates, not individual salary records.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainTeacher Editorial