State lawmakers earlier this week approved a nearly $125 million plan to boost teacher pay.

The so-called "career ladder" bill is now awaiting Gov. Butch Otter's signature before becoming law. Otter's approval is expected since the governor encouraged lawmakers to support the bill.

"We know that the teacher in the classroom is the most important factor in ensuring student success," Otter said, in a statement issued Wednesday. "This plan will help our schools recruit, develop and retain great teachers."

Under the plan, beginning teachers' annual salaries would increase in July by almost $1,000 to $32,700.

Over five years, starting teacher pay will increase to $37,000 a year, provided state revenue increases by 5.2 percent each year.

Teachers will be split into two tiers. Beginning teachers will be placed in a residency category for their first three years. If they meet certain benchmarks, they would then move into a professional tier. After eight years, teachers could then work toward bonuses.

Professional-tier teachers would earn $42,000 to $50,000 a year depending on experience and education levels.

Lawmakers' passage of the bill comes just days after an Idaho Education News report that average teacher pay in Idaho dropped more than $200 from 2012-13 to 2013-14.

IEN's Kevin Richert reported that according to a study released earlier this month by the National Education Association, only two states pay teachers less than Idaho.

According to the report, on average, Idaho's teacher pay fell from $44,669 in 2012-13 to $44,465 in 2013-14.

Idaho now ranks No. 49 among all states and the District of Columbia, ahead of only Mississippi and South Dakota.

In 2013-14, public school teachers in the U.S. made an average salary of $56,610, leaving Idaho around 79 percent of the national average.

Idaho's drop in teacher pay was not unique - and at less than 0.5 percent, it wasn't the steepest decrease nationally. Average pay dropped in a dozen states, including two of Idaho's neighbors, Nevada and Wyoming.

Robin Nettinga, executive director of the Idaho Education Association, told Idaho Education News that teacher pay isn't the only factor in recruitment and retention of good teachers, but it is an important factor.

"We hope the acknowledgement of the importance of teacher recruitment and retention and the Legislature's commitment to significantly increase teacher salaries in Idaho is a first step toward recognizing the important contribution Idaho's teachers make to our state," she said.