Final answer:
The average annual rate of increase is approximately 6.03%.
Step-by-step explanation:
The average annual rate of increase can be calculated by finding the percentage change in salary over the given 12-year period.
First, we need to find the total increase in salary: $25,000 - $14,500 = $10,500.
Next, we calculate the percentage increase: ($10,500 / $14,500) × 100 = 72.41%.
Finally, we divide the percentage increase by the number of years to find the average annual rate of increase: 72.41% / 12 = 6.03%.
Therefore, the average annual rate of increase is approximately 6.03%.