<p>I've ALWAYS wanted to be a teacher (secondary education, preferably high school). No matter how many other prospects and ideas I consider in terms of where I could see myself, being a teacher is the one and only that I always come back to.</p>
<p>So I figured I'd put the teaching idea on hold. But just recently, I found out that teacher salaries are public record; so I decided to poke around and see what some of my teachers' salaries are. Maybe my idea of a decent salary is not accurate, but most of the teachers who are new to teaching or haven't been teaching long (i.e. less than 10 years) have average salaries of $35-45k. Those who have been teaching for a while or have extra qualifications I've seen as high as $65k. My principal, (to my amazement!) makes $99k per year!!!</p>
<p>Are these salaries (~40k) really that bad? I think my grandparents make about $60k/year and they live quite luxuriously while also growing their savings and investments, and my parents don't make more than $20,000 each (they're separated) yet still manage to live and raise one of my brothers and I, pay a mortgage, etc. (granted we do receive food stamps, but still...)</p>
<p>Can somebody put these numbers into perspective? If I can get into teaching and by the peak of my career average over $50k, I feel that that it's totally do-able, and allows for the things I mentioned before (family, home, savings, enjoyment, etc.).</p>
<p>It really depends where you live/teach. In the southern states of the US, teachers get paid a very humble salary but on the other hand, the cost of living is much lower. Also within a state each district pays a slightly differently. It may not seem like much money per year but it does add up. A lot of school websites also post their salary guide.</p>
<p>I teach in NJ as a first year teacher and my salary is $47,000. The cost of living in this area are a bit higher but I’m living with my parents at least until I save a decent amount =p</p>
<p>It really depends on how you want to live. As a teacher, you won’t be able to afford a new Mercedes or live in a mansion, but with $40,000 - $60,000 per year you’ll be able to afford a $200,000 home and drive a reasonably new Honda. If you want to be comfortable, that’s fine. If you want to keep up with the Joneses, you’re going to need to find another line of work.</p>
<p>It’s also a matter of perception. You go on the engineering forum and hear how $100,000 a year by age 30 is considered “poor” and “not enough” and how people should go into investment banking instead because of it.</p>
<p>^ Thanks. “comfortable” is all that I’m looking for. A presentable car that works, a nice home in a safe neighborhood, the occasional vacation, money for necessities and low-cost wants (decent computer, nice cell phone (e.g. the iPhone in today’s world), etc.) and savings for my future, my wife’s future, and my children’s futures.</p>
<p>Salary really does vary depending on location & education. In our district we have mid-winter break- as well as spring break & the xmas holiday break.</p>
<p>Not saying they don’t deserve it, but teachers are often the only ones actually going anywhere on these breaks.
;)</p>
<p>In our school district (smaller urban location) The teachers salaries are quite generous and the cost of housing is quite low. There are many areas where you can teach and live well - if well is time with family, modest home, maybe an annual vacation to somewhere warm, etc. Many teachers are married to another teacher and it’s a great lifestyle. My MIL was a teacher and could never understand why my husband and I did not have a Christmas break. </p>
<p>My NMF d has also chosen teaching - it’s just her calling. She is not a materialistic person in the least so it will be a comfortable fit.</p>
<p>I looked up some teacher’s salaries on public record as well. I was kinda amazed by some of the salaries because of how much teachers complain how much they get paid. My aunt works for a nice, suburban school district as an elementary teacher. Her salary is 96k/ year, and she’s around 45 yrs old. I live in upstate NY though, where the standard of living is different from the south… but I was still pretty shocked by how much teachers can make.</p>
<p>The way you a lot of teachers talk you’d think that they’re doing awful and living in a shack on the outskirts of town lol. Honestly though a lot of them complain because what they get paid IS decent but they should get paid a lot more.</p>
<p>In my opinion being a teacher is one of the best jobs. You’ll live pretty comfortably. You’ll never be rich or anything, but you’ll have money for the things you need and the occasional vacation.</p>
<p>When I started as a teacher 14 years ago, I made $24,000. If I had had student loans, this would have been tough - but I graduated loan-free (thanks to working a lot of hours throughout all of school) and lived cheaply for a few years on my own.</p>
<p>Fourteen years and two Master’s Degrees later (one of which was paid for by the district), I make about $56,000 with full retirement and health insurance benefits. This means my family pays ZERO dollars for health insurance and I’m looking at being able to retire around age 60 if I play the rest of my cards right. My salary (along with my husband’s modest income as a small business owner) allows us to live in the midwest on 10 beautiful acres in a nice middle class home. I also have summers with my kids, 1.5 weeks in the winter, and a week in the spring to do whatever I want. Best of all, I get to hang out with my students all day teaching a subject I love. </p>
<p>If you play your cards right, work toward an advanced degree while you’re young, and get into a good district, teaching is a GREAT gig. I started out as a bio major and switched to science education after working at a summer camp my sophomore year - and I’ve never regretted it!</p>
<p>The beginning salary is always low. As you work and earn more years, the pay does increase, and it does get better. My history teacher makes around 85 a year for teaching over 15 years. With his wife included, they make around 150 a year. They live quite comfortably. However, my math teacher makes the same amount as my history teacher, and he complains about tax cuts and budget cuts.</p>
<p>I think it really depends on where you live. I live in California and with the insane budget cuts, teachers don’t even know if they’re going to get a paycheck or a pink slip.</p>
<p>Don’t give up your dream! Life isn’t always about money. Many teachers don’t become teachers for the money, they want to teach and spread knowledge. I think you’ll be able to live decently with a teacher’s pay. A science teacher at my school is way past the age of retirement, but he loves teaching so much, he said he’ll teach until he drops dead in class. With retirement money already, he obviously has bank. LOL.</p>
<p>^ It depends on the subject, grade level, and state. Well, now it also depends on the governor and how he/she feels about education. Just look at WI and NJ</p>
<p>I used to be concerned about that too. I’m an undergrad majoring in science education (earth sciences with biology) and I’ve wanted to be a teacher forever, and a science teacher specifically, more recently. I looked at earning potentials and they’re ok for me. I’m not extravagant and I have no problem working a second job in the off-times we teachers will have, especially to pay down loans I incur from getting endorsed in two sciences.
To me, the joy I’ll get from teaching, the lifestyle, and the subject trump any amount of money my degree “should” earn me.
Single, childless, and making 40K is totally fine by me</p>
<p>Many of our teachers in my building had different career paths before they became teachers (store manager, chemist, & paper sales). One mentioned to me that in 1980 she was making $32,000. I told her in 1980 I was making $12,000!</p>
<p>I now make $54,00 but pay $9,000 for family health insurance. I’ve taught over 30 years, have a masters. (I turned down the National Certification program because I could tell the state I lived in wouldn’t support it down the road…they didn’t)</p>
<p>Every job has trade offs. Mine is I work on average 50-60 hours a week during the school year and I stand on concrete all day. (Good teachers rarely sit!) The positive is I’ve had the same schedule as my children. I also spent every summer going to additional workshops and classes to learn the latest technology and make myself a better teacher.</p>
<p>If you’re meant to be a teacher, run with it! If you are going into teaching because you can’t think of anything else, reconsider.</p>