Compensation and Benefits

We invest in our staff, so they can Be their best for our students

At Excel, compensation is designed to be transparent, competitive, and built for the long term. We want people who join Excel to stay, and we’ve structured our salaries, benefits, and support to reflect that commitment.

A comprehensive Salary Structure

The Experience You Bring is Reflected in What You Earn

Clear starting points, Defined paths forward

Excel’s competitive salary scale is transparent, predictable, and designed so our team can plan their life around it. Staff members can see where they start and where they’re headed. Raises are guaranteed on a set schedule, not tied to annual budget decisions.

  • $60,000 Minimum Starting Salary (Massachusetts) for first-year teachers

  • $50,000 Minimum Starting Salary (Rhode Island) for first-year teachers

  • 8% Guaranteed Raise during years two through eight. Raises are calculated on current salaries, applied annually, and compound as the salary grows.

Permanent Salary Increases

The following permanent salary increases are added to the base salary, not one-time bonuses. Increases are applied at the start of a contract and grow alongside annual raises.

  • $2000+ for Special Education and English Language Learner Licensure are recognized. Increases are cumulative.

  • $2000 for first directly relevant master’s degree.

  • $1000+ for Spanish, Portuguese, or Arabic fluency, verified by remote assessment at a high-intermediate level. Increases are cumulative.

  • Excel Academy Graduates who return to teach receive salary recognition for the unique experience they bring.

Points of Intersection Awards

Excel offers additional salary recognition for the insight and connection staff bring to the classroom and our network when they share key life experiences with the students we serve.

Staff can receive up to $5,000 in Point of Intersection Awards in recognition of their experience(s) as:

  • First generation college students
  • Coming from a low-income background
  • Multilingual speakers

beyond Salary

Benefits and financial opportunities

Robust support for Growth

In addition to medical, dental, and retirement benefits, Excel offers a comprehensive suite of benefits to support staff professional growth and financial well-being. Some benefits vary by region. Highlights include:

  • Retirement Benefits with employer contributions for every employee, with variable vehicles depending on region.

  • Student Loan Repayment up to $437.50 per month and personalized loan forgiveness counseling through PeopleJoy.

  • On-site Bilingual Daycare in Massachusetts with admission through a lottery process for children of Excel staff.

  • Tuition Discount at Boston University Wheelock up to 33% for part-time, evening, or online course tuition.

  • Paid Leadership and Stipend Opportunities such as sports team coach, DEI liaison, social media ambassador, and content or grade-level leadership. Stipends range from $600-$8,000.

  • Staff Wellbeing Support including wellness resources, flexible scheduling where applicable, and structured mentoring for new teachers create a vibrant, supportive work environment.

Time For Work Outside of the Classroom

Good teaching requires time to plan, collaborate, and grow. Protected time is built into the school schedule for teachers to work and grow. Highlights include:

  • Early student dismissal twice per week creates dedicated time for professional development or department and grade-level teams to collaborate, review data, and plan together.

  • Maximum of four teaching periods per day caps teachers’ classroom time and allows for prep, planning, and grading during the school day.

  • 1:1 Coaching and Support: Regular, structured time for teachers and coaches or managers is thoughtfully built into the schedule. Our Teacher Observation Rubric grounds our efforts to grow teaching talent and build teacher skill.


Common Questions

Starting salaries are calculated using a transparent formula based on years of relevant experience and any applicable permanent increases (for degrees, licensure, language fluency, etc.).

For school-based and CAPS staff hired SY21-22 or later, raises in years 2–8 are 8% annually and guaranteed by schedule. They are not contingent on performance reviews or budget decisions.

The pivot salary is $110,000 in Massachusetts and $102,000 in Rhode Island for full-time teachers, learning specialists, and ELL specialists. Staff above the pivot salary continue to receive raises at a rate consistent with increases in public per-pupil funding, typically 2% annually.

 

Yes. Increases for language fluency (Spanish, Portuguese, or Arabic) are each $1,000 and cumulative. SPED and ELL licensure each carry a $2,000 increase and are also cumulative. These are added to the base salary permanently and grow with annual raises.

Excel offers up to $437.50 per month in student loan repayment through PeopleJoy, along with personalized counseling to help staff navigate Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and other forgiveness programs.

The on-site bilingual daycare is available to Massachusetts staff through a lottery process. Spots are limited.

Contact Us

Connect with Alejandra Gil Director of Talent agil@excelacademy.org.

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