Those numbers sound uncomfortable. Is there a difference between early, middle and high school for starting teachers?
No. Usually teachers are all on the same contract. There will be different contracts for non professionals, admin, and related service providers
This is a typical contract in my area. Notice the cost of living increase is not the only increase for most teachers as you also move up a step each year until you hit the top of the ladder.
The biggest issue in some contracts are rising healthcare costs that are larger than the COA.
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Thanks for the detailed explanation. For young people going into teaching, what is the main attraction? I am guessing there are very reasonable other alternatives.
Among my students? Most want to teach! Many love the content area and want to continue to use that training, perhaps to earn a salary for a few years before considering a career move or a grad degree. For many, it’s a way into the middle class without spending money on grad school. Some want the security. Many come from families of teachers and have decided to go into the family business. Some are parents who want to work hours that match their kids’ school days and calendars. Some also have long-term goals of moving into admin positions, but you can’t do that without spending several years in the classroom.
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Thank you
For a certain segment of the population, recent college grads might do a 2-year stint in Teach for America or a similar program before then applying to law school or some other program to then have a more lucrative career.
But the people who go into teaching as a career path and not to pad their applications? Most are pretty altruistic…they go into it because they want to make a difference in kids’ lives. They may love the subject they’re teaching and want to help kids to love it, or maybe they didn’t like school and want to be the kind of teacher that would have made the experience better for them. And it’s a job that, historically, could be found anywhere. So if one spouse was in the military or otherwise was moving a lot, it was a career that was pretty geographically available.
Additionally, for many working parents, a job as a teacher means that they have the same schedule as their kids, and that can be very appealing. And, at least historically, teachers have very good retirement benefits. So they may not get paid as much while they’re working, but then they would have a very solid retirement package when they’re done working.
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For D22 she started working at a preschool when she was 16 and she couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Luckily she had college paid for and can live with us as long as she wants to or it would be a struggle. Most new teachers I know work multiple jobs (waitressing, baby sitting, summer jobs, etc)
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Thank you. The pull towards going into professions that one of the parents is in seems very strong for other professions as well. And security must be another factor, as you mention. Still, if the perception is that the profession is less than well paid, I find it surprising that kids don’t explore other choices. Clearly the kids going into teaching may not feel that they are under compensated.
Thanks for this. In NI, where I live, I heard education administrators get paid very very well — like 250k a year type salaries. I am guessing some teachers also go in that direction.
I also heard some teachers supplement with things like SAT coaching, tutoring etc — not elementary school teachers if course.
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When I first went into teaching, you were practically guaranteed a job upon graduation. I’ve served many roles from admin to consulting. Many teachers move on to more specialized roles ( curriculum coach, team chairs, admin) after being in the classroom for a number of years.
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Does the salary go up a lot for these other roles?
I’d say principals in high paying districts are around 140k and superintendents are between 180 and 220 depending on the district.
You couldn’t pay me to be a high school principal or superintendent. I am surprised that our high school and elementary school principals make the same amount as high school requires many additional duties around scheduling, sports and college preparedness.
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Or they feel it is a calling and they are mission-driven and find meaning in the work. Not everyone feels as though they need to pull down a 6-figure income (and in fact, most people don’t). Per this site, an individual income of $100,000 in the U.S. is at the 76th percentile.
Many educators who feel the desire for a higher salary will go into educational administration. In my state, though, educational administrators usually don’t hit 6 figures until they’re pretty high up on the org chart. Salaries of $250k are generally more for the superintendents (though some get more than that). Even the deputy superintendents are definitely well below $200k, and I’m talking in our state’s largest districts.
Some do supplement, including elementary teachers, via tutoring and similar. And then there are still teachers who will tutor their students after school…for free.
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There’s been a superintendent arms race. Ours is $355K but tired of the board so resigned to take a #2 job next door. I assume he’ll be #1.
Our last guy was offered by Nashville - much bigger but turned it down with a huge raise - like to $275K. Eventually Fulton County (Atlanta) grabbed him - Dr. Mike Looney. He makes over half a mil.
What I noticed when my kids were in school was that female teachers were mostly young - they didn’t last. They went and had families. In most cases, if a teacher was in the 40s/50, they were male. I don’t have stats but it’s what it seemed. Young girls would leave.
I do know with Moms for LIberty taking over boards - teachers can’t teach as they want - and they have to be very careful or they can lose their jobs - so many don’t want the stress.
What should be an impactful and beautiful job and I’m sure still is in many ways - is also now a job where parents boss you around, kids disrespect you, and the rules from those governing can make the job unpleasant at best.
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What I do feel is that there is significant lack of information and role models for different professions within each family. For example, kids in my extended family, and in my friends circles, have no idea about what it means to have a teaching career, or many other careers. I am sure it works the same way in reverse for kids who grow up with parents that are both teachers etc. the other day a friend was very stressed that his kid chose to become a musician, and the parent has no life experience in that profession, and also doesn’t know any one else in that profession to learn from, and feels helpless about how he can help his kid. I am not saying that being a musician is like being a teacher — but these professions are like different islands, or like guilds in the old days. Somewhat insular.
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I have a friend’s kid who took a gap year after high school and went and taught middle school in inner city Providence RI. She said it was exhausting after 11 months. Very tough classroom, pressure from parents etc.
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Parents, administrators and more - but some kids are trained to be teachers. Others like mine aren’t. Many in my daughters cohort didn’t come back for year two. Some didn’t last a semester. My daughter struggled - connected with the kids but struggled with the administration just like I might struggle with a bus. It’s a learning. I went and read to the class. I was amazed at her control. Many of these inner city kids want the structure, want to learn - and that’s beautiful. But like anyone, she’ll have to understand she has bosses.
We had a wonderful music teacher. He left to work in real estate with a parent. A year later he was back as an assistant principal which is too bad because in music, he really motivated kids. He eventually rose to Principal but then went to work for a company called Explore in Nashville. His linkedin shows he is an executive principal.
I think a lof these charter schools are changing the structure of education. In the red states, they are pulling money from the districts, which are said - and funding vouchers and more - so kids have less. My daughter gives some of her money for snacks and other supplies and we help. It shouldn’t be but it’s part of what happens.
At this point, I’m glad she can pay the rent. Yes, there’s time off but it is stressful as are many jobs but they deal with a lot more people - and there’s little time to rest. There’s lesson plans at night and more.
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I think it’s a tough job, in terms of the hours and emotionally.
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I have many students who went into teaching in part because they came from families of teachers. I know a few colleagues in academia who are the children of academics. But it’s not the majority in either case – far from it. I went into secondary ed despite having no teachers in my family. I made the jump to academia without having relatives in higher ed. It would not have occurred to me to second guess my career choices, or to ask my family for career advice, or to feel like I was missing out because they had no professional advice for me. That’s what my college, grad school, and professional mentors were for. Despite not having educators as role models in my family, as a person who pursued education, I had plenty of educator-mentors to help me out!
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Money isn’t everything – and for many of my students who go into teaching, the salary seems more stable than what they grew up with. Benefits are usually good (including retirement), as are hours, and summers offer chances to supplement income (or .. travel, or read, or take grad classes, or be home with kids). There are less tangible rewards, too: seeing results in your students’ improvement, opportunities for creativity, some professional autonomy (depending on the school/district/state), the rewards that come with mentoring and forging personal connections. Many teachers choose education after careers in business, the military, and elsewhere (schools love to hire retired soldiers as teachers). No one goes into education to get rich. Teachers find fulfillment in places other than their paychecks. Not everyone wants the life that comes with being an engineer, lawyer, or executive.
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