The DPS Board of Education desires to include Master's pay for teachers in the 2024-2025 budget. We are very excited for this opportunity. Currently, the state of N.C. has not recognized Master's pay since 2013, and we are hoping to reinstate it in the near future.
In order to receive Master's pay, your degree must be aligned to what you are teaching. DPS will follow state licensure guidelines to determine degree relevancy. For example: If you have a Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA), and you are teaching a Business class, then you will be paid at your step on Master's salary schedule. If you have a Master's Degree in Music, but you are teaching Art, you will not be paid on the Master's schedule.
Master's pay for the 2025-2026 school year, please read below:
At its May 8, 2025, meeting, the DPS Board of Education unanimously approved that only employees who are classroom teachers and/or social workers and have a relevant Master’s degree listed on their license from NCDPI would be considered for Master’s pay.
To ensure validation of relevant degrees and to provide our teams with the appropriate documentation to process compensation, employees who wish to receive Master’s pay must update their NCDPI license to include their Master’s degree.
Compensation will be changed to reflect Master’s pay only after your updated license has been received by your DPS Licensure Specialist.
Employees who are currently receiving local Master’s pay previously vetted by Human Resources must update their license with NCDPI to reflect their Master’s degree to continue receiving Master’s pay.
Master’s pay will not be paid retroactively from the beginning of the 2025-26 year, but will be paid to eligible employees based on the updated endorsement date on their NCDPI license.
Please note that DPS does not control how long NCDPI may need or take to make updates to the license.
The Process for Updating Your License Through NCDPI
Update your license online via the NCDPI Online Licensure System. There is a $60 fee associated with updating your license. Employees are not eligible for reimbursement for this fee.
Once your updated license reflects the “M” designation or your relevant Master’s degree has been added to your license, contact your DPS Licensure Specialist to request that local Master’s pay be applied.
· Current Classroom Teachers
If you are currently receiving local Master’s pay, you must contact your Licensure Specialist to ensure the “M” designation or relevant Master’s are added to your current license. This step is required to continue receiving local Master’s pay.
· New Classroom Teachers
New teachers eligible for local Master’s pay must have the “M” designation or relevant Master’s degree added to their license before receiving Master’s pay. Please note that your Master’s degree must be aligned with the subject you are teaching to qualify.
If you have any questions, please contact your Licensure Specialist directly: Eduardo Garcia eduardo_garcia@dpsnc.net (last names A-K) and Berna Sellers berna_sellers@dpsnc.net (last names L-Z). You must email your updated license to your DPS Licensure Specialist as stated above.
DPS Human Resources Contact Information
If you have any additional questions about Master’s pay, please contact HRLicensure@dpsnc.net. For questions about the Online Licensure System, please contact NCDPI.