Austin Teachers Get “Priced Out” of Their Homes

Once upon a time, Austin was among the most affordable places to live, now the capital of Texas finds itself almost at the top of the list of least affordable cities in America.

The surging prices have created a brewing housing crisis and Texas teachers seem to be on the frontline. 

AISD’s new hire guide for the 2020-21 school year shows teacher and librarian salaries start at $51,000. The salary went up to $63,000 after 30 or more years of experience as reported by KVUE. 

Katrina Pokorney, a teacher for Austin ISD, was “priced out” of the housing market – like many other teachers – in Austin. She now commutes 45 minutes each day from Round Rock. 

“To be able to pay my mortgage, I have to have a roommate and a second job. So just to be able to survive and make it month to month, it’s tough,” explained Pokorney. 

To qualify for affordable housing, residents must make less than 50% of the median family income, which in Austin is around $98,900, according to the Housing Authority of the City of Austin. 

AISD officials have proposed a pay increase, which includes a pay increase for teachers by 2% for the midpoint of their pay scale for the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, the 2022-23 budget would receive a 1,000 base pay increase.