A salary differential is an incremental increase in salary based on completed academic coursework beyond a bachelor's degree (e.g., additional coursework, CLEP exams, advanced degrees). Salary differentials are listed horizontally across the top row of the salary schedule.
You must apply to receive differentials by completing a salary differential application in the Salary Application System. You cannot complete this application until after you have been hired, and must complete it within 6 months of your start date in order to receive retroactive pay to your start date. Note that if you are applying for a salary differential as a current employee, you must submit the salary differential application within 6 months of earning the qualifying credit.
What are the qualifications for a salary differential?
The salary differentials are listed at the top of the salary schedule. Below are brief explanations of each differential:
- BAC1: This is the basic salary for those who have only a bachelor’s degree.
- C1+PD: This column applies only to teachers hired before 1970.
- BA+30, C2: This is called the first differential. It requires 30 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree requirement. These may be all excess undergraduate credits, all graduate credits, or a combination of both.
- C2+ID: This column, the intermediate differential (ID), applies to people who have earned their first differential and in addition have 60 credits beyond the bachelor’s.
- C2+PD: This is called the promotional differential or PD. It requires 36 credits in an approved subject matter area; those 36 credits may be undergraduate, graduate, or a combination. Generally speaking, you qualify when you get your master’s degree.
- C2+ID+PD: This is for people who have met the requirements for the first differential, the intermediate differential and the promotional differential.
- MA+30, C6: This is for teachers of specific trade subjects, where they qualify with a bachelor's degree and 60 additional credits.
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C6+PD: This is the second differential. It can be achieved in several ways:
- With a master’s degree plus another 30 credits that were taken after the date of your bachelor’s but not as part of your master’s credits. The credits can be from undergraduate or graduate courses.
- With professional development courses and/or activities approved by the chancellor.
- By getting National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.
Note that Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers follow a different path for obtaining differentials. See here to learn more about the salary differential qualifications for CTE teachers.
How can I apply for a salary differential?
Differentials are not automatically awarded. You must apply for them in order to receive a salary increase. To ensure you receive your differential from the date you earn the additional credits, you must apply within six months of earning the qualifying credit, or within 6 months of your start date as a new teacher.
You must submit your salary differential application in the Salary Application System. Note that you will not be able to complete this application until you have been hired and have a NYCPS email address. Upon review, you will be notified via email from the Office of Salary Services about your salary differential eligibility.
Differentials are paid as of February 1, July 1, and September 1 for work you’ve completed in the previous fall, spring, and summer semesters, respectively. For example, if you complete your coursework by January 31 and file by July 31, NYCPS will pay your differential retroactively back to February 1.
Visit the UFT website for additional guidance and support.