Atlanta districts turn to incentives to fill open positions before school year

ATLANTA — A month from the start of the new school year, districts are still recruiting teachers.

Many are turning to salary incentives to attract new teachers or retain current employees.

According to the Georgia Department of Education, 78 percent of teachers resign and leave the field. Less than 18 percent leave for retirement, another position in a Georgia school, or family reasons.

We contacted the five core metro Atlanta counties to gather information on open positions, base salary, incentives, and the district’s greatest need.

Here’s the roundup.

*This information is accurate through the end of June 2024. 

Fulton County Schools 

• Open Positions: 
  • 157 teachers
• Base Salary: 
  • $59,030
• Greatest Need: 
  • 200+ Bus drivers
• Incentives: 
  • Teachers will receive a 4.5% increase plus a step, Priority Schools will receive a $5,000 supplement for new hires, and district police officers will receive a $5,000 increase to their base pay. Read all 2024-25 staffing incentives here. 
• Job Fairs: 
  • None in July
• Retention Rate: 
  • 84%

Atlanta Public Schools

• Open Positions: 
  • 27 teachers
• Base Salary: 
  • $62,580
• Incentives: 
  • APS offers CDL Passenger endorsement training and a $2,000.00 hiring incentive for Bus Drivers. 
  • APS offers base pay increases along with incentives for working in Turnaround Schools, High Need Schools, and teaching High Needs Subjects. 
  • APS offers a Teacher Salary Estimator tool.
• Greatest Need: 
  • Paraprofessionals, bus drivers, substitute teachers
• Job Fairs: 
  • Bus Driver/Operator job fairs every Thursday at the Campbell Building located at 21 Thirkeld Ave SW Atlanta, GA 30315 from 11 AM – 1 PM. 
    • Thursday, 7/11
    • Thursday, 718
    • Thursday, 7/25
• Retention Rate: 
  • No statewide information

DeKalb County Schools 

• Open Positions: 
  • 348 teachers
• Base Salary: 
  • $60,000
• Incentives:
  • $2,00-$2,500 New hire incentives
  • $2,000 Employee Retention Incentive
  • $1,000 Exceptional Service Appreciation Incentive
  • $300 referral incentive
  • $250 Attendance incentive
  • Full incentive breakdown here. 
  • IGNITE Teacher Residency Program
• Greatest Need: 
  • Teachers and paraprofessionals
• Job Fairs:
  • July 16, 2024
• Retention Rate:
  • 84%

Gwinnett County Schools 

• Open Positions:
  • 181 teachers
• Base Salary:
  • $59,146
• Incentives:
  • Read about Gwinnett County's salary incentives here. 
• Greatest Need:
  • Teachers and paraprofessionals
• Job Fairs:
  • Teacher Virtual Career Fair Date: 
    • Thursday, July 11 from 3-5 pm
    • Register here.
  • Bus Driver Career Fair Dates: 
    • 7/13 from 10 – 2 pm
    • 720 Hurricane Shoals Rd. NE
• Retention Rate:
  • 86%

Cobb County Schools

• Open Positions:
  • 22 teachers
• Base Salary:
  • $60,000
• Incentives:
  • 4.4% raise approved by the Board last month
  • Teacher Retention Program Georgia’s Best
  • After School Programs, Food Service Workers
• Retention Rate:
  • 91%

Clayton County Schools

• Open Positions:
  • 393 teachers
• Base Salary:
  • $55,309
  • Full salary scale here. 
• Incentives:
  • Loyalty Incentive, Attendance Incentive, Spring Break Appreciation Incentive, Salary Increase

• Greatest Need:
  • Teachers
• Job Fairs:
  • Two events TBD in July
• Retention Rate:
  • 83%