10.2190/V1JD-J9YH-FADQ-TY20 V1JDJ9YHFADQTY20 0 DETERMINANTS OF TEACHER SALARY LEVEL: THE FLORIDA EVIDENCE 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=V1JDJ9YHFADQTY20 1 JAMES G. WARD AND THOMAS D. FACKENDER This article presents the results of a study of develop a model for estimating average teacher salary levels in Florida school districts using financial and economic variables, as well as variables describing the characteristics of the district teaching staff. This research has important policy implications because it show whether efforts to increase teacher salary levels to attract and retain high-quality teachers through the state funding formula can succeed. The results show that the strongest determinants of teacher salary levels are the degree of graduate preparation of the teachers in the district, the property wealth of the district, the education level of the district residents, and level of transportation spending. The discrepancies between predicted salary levels and actual salary levels have important implications for collective bargaining.