A new teacher’s salary in Texas averaged $41,481 for the 2017-2018 school year, the 15th highest out of 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to a new report by the National Education Association (NEA).

Starting teachers in Texas earn more than the national average of starting teachers’ $39,249 salary, according to the NEA. But starting teachers’ pay has dropped 2.9 percent over the past decade because of inflation, the report notes.

Slightly more than 60 percent–more than six out of every 10 school districts nationwide– pay new teachers less than $40,000, the NEA reports. First-year teachers in 300 public school districts are paid less than $30,000 annually.

The NEA also pointed to a recent Economic Policy Institute report that found that teachers are paid more than 21 percent less than other professionals with similar education and experience.

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Average Starting Teacher Salaries by State

Source: National Education Association