Eight in 10 Miami-Dade and Broward teachers say they have considered leaving the profession, citing low pay and a cost of living that keeps climbing.

The findings come from the sixth annual teacher survey from NBC 6 South Florida and Telemundo 51, published Wednesday. More than 1,200 educators responded. The survey is nonscientific and was distributed through the teachers' unions in both counties, though the unions had no editorial input on the questions.

Voters across Miami-Dade will decide Nov. 3 whether to renew the Secure Our Future Referendum, which funds teacher salary supplements averaging $10,000 to $12,000. Schools that serve the community, including Aventura City of Excellence School, Don Soffer Aventura High School and Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High, are part of a district grappling with the pressures the survey describes.

Pay is the top concern. The same share, 80%, said they have considered moving out of South Florida altogether. Nearly all respondents, 94%, reported that colleagues have already left the region because of the cost of living.

"The cost of living does not match the pay we get," wrote one respondent, a 24-year veteran with a master's degree.

Base salaries for South Florida public school teachers start at about $52,000, according to NBC 6 South Florida's reporting on the referendums. More than half of respondents said they work a second job, either year-round or during the summer. About 62% said they are financially worse off than a year ago. Only 2.1% said they are better off.

Enrollment drops as district weighs more school closures

More than 70% of teachers surveyed said their schools are experiencing declining enrollment. That tracks with district data: on Aug. 13, the first day of the 2026-27 school year, Miami-Dade traditional public schools enrolled about 15,100 fewer students than the year before, dropping from 230,172 to 215,078, the Miami Herald reported. Charter school enrollment fell for the first time as well, from 86,913 to 85,473.

District spokesperson Elmo Lugo attributed the shortfall to lower birth rates, shifting migration patterns and the region's high cost of living. School-level figures for Aventura-area campuses have not been released. The district recently closed nine campuses, and both outgoing Superintendent Jose Dotres and incoming Superintendent Rafael Villalobos have signaled more closures or consolidations ahead.

About 27% of survey respondents supported school consolidation, roughly 38% opposed it and about 36% were unsure. More than 80% opposed sharing buildings with charter schools under the state's Schools of Hope program.

Teachers raise concerns about immigration, phones and AI

The survey captured concerns beyond pay. Seventy-one percent of respondents said immigration enforcement has directly affected their students, and 60% said students have expressed fear or concern about enforcement. More than 70% said their schools have not provided clear guidance on handling immigration-related issues.

On technology, 94% said they worry about social media's impact on student mental health. Eighty-seven percent support banning cellphones during the school day at all grade levels, though 52% said their school's policy is difficult to enforce. Nearly 80% expressed concern about students using artificial intelligence tools for schoolwork.

Referendum renewal goes before voters Nov. 3

Miami-Dade County Public Schools was the only district to respond to the survey findings. In a statement, the district said it is taking steps to support educators, including urging voters to renew the Secure Our Future Referendum. The referendum was first passed in 2018 and renewed in 2022. It also funds mental health counselors and school safety measures. Broward has a similar measure, called Secure the Next Generation, on the same ballot.

Henry Filer Middle School teacher Thais Garcia, a 30-plus-year veteran, told NBC 6 South Florida on Sept. 16 that the pay gap is pushing younger educators out. "It's like a slap in the face ... And younger people are either not going into teaching, they're leaving teaching," Garcia said.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents said their schools are experiencing staff shortages this year. Among those, about 80% said their district is not providing enough support to address it. Broward County Public Schools and the Florida Department of Education did not provide statements in response to the survey.

Aventura-area voters can cast ballots on the Secure Our Future Referendum on Nov. 3.