Example: Take the numbers 4, 5, and 21
The
median is 5.
The
average is 10.
The
median and average are not interchangeable.
In Lodi, beginning teachers are on the lower end and at 15 years are on the higher end. An average is going to show something a lot different than a median. A median can go either way in this setup. It can be part of the lower end or higher end. But it is not an average.
Article: “The median teacher
salary decreased by $1,592 from last year. According to the New Jersey
Department of Education, Lodi's median teacher salary in 2016 was $57,216 and
this year the average is $55,624. The state average for teacher's salary this
year is $66,184.”
Truth: There is a big
difference between “median” and “average”. The average salary in Lodi is well above
$55,624. Allyson Pontier should have stated Lodi’s TRUE average. You can’t compare a median salary to the state average.
Lodi's average salary is a lot higher than its median salary. You have to
compare apples to apples. Looking at our
budgets, Lodi’s average salary is likely above the state average.
