Salary

Your salary is calculated based on your level of education and your years of service. The Department of Education/UFT contract for your title contains a listing of salary schedules that take effect with each negotiated pay increase. These salary schedules are also posted on the UFT website at www.uft.org/salary-schedules. Call a salary representative in your UFT borough office if you need help interpreting the schedule.

It’s worth checking, particularly if you are a new teacher, that you have been given credit for all the educational credits you’ve earned and all the experience you have. Note that you may be able to get salary credit for teaching experience elsewhere or other relevant experience. Longevities (payments tied to years of service) apply only to pedagogical service in New York City public schools.

A five-year longevity for teachers and other titles was created in the 2007– 2009 contract (with longevity going into effect on May 19, 2008). That longevity is added to the annual salary after teaching five years in the system on their longevity date. Longevity increments are received in intervals after you have worked the required years (10, 13, 15, 20 and 22 years) for pedagogues.

If you have any questions regarding your salary step, differentials or longevity payments, you should ask your payroll secretary to assist you. If you believe you are being paid incorrectly, you should call a salary representative in your UFT borough office. If necessary, a salary grievance will be filed on your behalf.

You can accumulate the credits you need to qualify for salary differentials by, among other ways, taking courses through UFT Course Programs. To find out about the current course offerings and register for courses online, you can access the online course catalog at www.uft.org/courses. You can also call 1-212-475-3737.

Teachers, other pedagogues and paraprofessionals are paid semimonthly, on or about the 1st and the 16th, by check — which is delivered to your school — or by direct deposit.

Since 2007–2008, all newly hired UFT-represented educators are supposed to be paid through direct deposit. Although the DOE has not yet mandated this, we strongly encourage you to enroll in direct deposit.

When you start working, if there is a delay in placing you on the payroll, you can apply for an emergency check to tide you over. Talk to your payroll secretary. Because of a law the UFT secured years ago, the DOE pays interest on delayed payments.

On the last day of school, teachers receive five checks or five check stubs for direct deposit: one for the end of June, two for July and two for August.

Throughout the school year, teachers can also apply for “per-session” activities that are done either before school, after school, on weekends or holidays, or during the summer. If you apply for and are accepted for such an activity, you are paid at the current per-session rate of $41.98 per hour (as listed in the contract).

For more detailed information about salary differentials, salary steps, longevity increases and per-session work, visit www.uft.org/salary.