My high school gym teacher was just put on leave for abusing his wife. When the story came out, I looked up his salary -- $168k. He's in his mid-40s and did a lot of stuff for the athletics program so this is more than just regular teacher salary but still. This is in NJ.
As a counselor, I started making about $43k in Virginia Beach (MCOL) - that was with a Masters + (my masters required more credits than a typical instructional masters) and an extended schedule (I worked about 3 extra weeks per year).
When I resigned I was making about $65k in Maryland (also MCOL, though a teensy bit higher than VA Beach) and that was with 5 years experience and extended schedule. I worked about a month more than teachers in Maryland.
I felt properly compensated. I chose school counseling (over Marriage and Family, Addictions, etc) because I thought it was a more well-rounded lifestyle job. I wanted time off in the summers, winter and spring break, and to know that I would be on a similar schedule as my kids one day. So for me, I forfeited the higher pay check (and opportunity for more growth) to have the privilege of knowing I would get all of my Christmases off and get time in the summer to enjoy my kids and family. It's helpful that I really enjoy the school environment - particularly high schools - where there is never a dull moment and the environment is just really dynamic and fun.
I'm not sure why high school teachers are paid so much more than elementary school. Is that universal or just our district?
Because I could probably swing being a HS teacher, but elementary seems so much more labor intensive and draining.
Also, maybe it's district-specific, but the teachers I know only work a couple extra days in the summer. I'm sorry to hear that's not true everywhere. I would think that not paying for summer child care would be a major perk/benefit of teaching, but it sounds like that's not universally true based on some of these posts.
Here in Ontario it is no longer the case, our Elementary union had to fight long and hard to get pay equalization but historically they differed because Secondary teachers always required university to teach, whereas Elementary did not. That requirement has changed and now both do. Given that both levels require exactly the same education, pay should at least be close. Our working conditions still differ here, Secondary teachers have considerably more prep time and very little supervision duty time.
I still talk like I am a unionist teacher, not management, lol. Doesn't help that our system is currently in negotiation and job action hell. I picked a good time to be on leave.
I will agree that the compensation for coaching or any other "extras" is abysmal. I was the junior class sponsor which took quite a bit of my time (I won't get into the torture of trying to plan junior ring dance with a bunch of 16 year olds, LOL) and I think I made like $400/year for that. So I was probably making an extra $2/hour . Coaches, who totally do work an extra 2-3 hours per day when you account for practices and games, usually are in the $1500/year range. Again, they are making less than minimum wage for those extra duties.
I personally always worked beyond my contracted hours because I had to sit through pretty much every PTC, IEP, or 504 meeting. So while my contract said I had to be there from 7-3, I was usually there until at least 4:30 or 5. There are very few teachers who don't put in overtime. When I was in Maryland there was a contract dispute and teachers went "work to rule" and refused to work past what their contract stated. It was a freaking mess because all of the parents who wanted PTCs or kids who needed extra help after school were turned away. It made a point, but man that was a rough few months.
I could imagine HS teachers making more because their education is more specialized. Like, to be a HS science teacher, you have to have a science degree. To be an elementary teacher, you can have any bachelors.
Interesting. It's not like that here. Teachers all need to have a 4 year teaching degree. There is a degree for elementary school teaching, and for HS, you get a degree in HS science teaching, with let's say a minor in HS history teaching. You can't become a teacher here with a science degree, you need a 4 year teaching degree.
I could imagine HS teachers making more because their education is more specialized. Like, to be a HS science teacher, you have to have a science degree. To be an elementary teacher, you can have any bachelors.
Interesting. It's not like that here. Teachers all need to have a 4 year teaching degree. There is a degree for elementary school teaching, and for HS, you get a degree in HS science teaching, with let's say a minor in HS history teaching. You can't become a teacher here with a science degree, you need a 4 year teaching degree.
This is where we differ than the U.S...I don't know how it works in Que but we do 4 year undergrad followed by 2 years of what is referred to as 'teacher's college' but is actually a bachelor of Ed...so you have to have two bachelors to teach (unless you teach high school tech).
Edit: I just re-read and realized you stated the expectation in Que. lol
Post by darthnbjenni on Oct 6, 2015 10:48:11 GMT -5
I make $48,000 in a LCOL area (I'm on my 12th year teaching with a M.Ed - but am on a year 10 pay scale due to maternity leave. Apparently, you can't accrue time taught if you aren't physically in the classroom, even though I left daily detailed plans and still graded assignments). I'm able to (tightly) support our family of 6 on this income. Here's our teacher pay scale: www.greenville.k12.sc.us/Departments/docs/1516/teacher_salary.pdf
where I live they are about in line with the original posters numbers. It is crazy! They are one of the highest paid professions in town. Our school taxes are outrageous!
our house assessed at 406K ...our school taxes are 8K
Post by thebreakfastclub on Oct 6, 2015 10:50:49 GMT -5
One thing that makes teaching appealing to me is having the contract and all kinds of protections and agreements.
At my old job, if someone quit or moved areas, their workload was distributed around to various people on the team. I picked up a 2nd area of responsibility last August, a person started in the role in November, and I was her trainer. That's a 9 month commitment to doing 1.5 or 2 jobs, no extra pay there.
The comp time arrangement was if you stayed until 8pm or later the week before for a deadline, it was OK to leave at 4pm this week.
Post by Queen Mamadala on Oct 6, 2015 11:11:01 GMT -5
40k starting out with a BA. It's something I'm considering once I'm done with school. I'd prefer teaching high school social or religious studies. Decisions, decisions.
I would think that not paying for summer child care would be a major perk/benefit of teaching, but it sounds like that's not universally true based on some of these posts.
Back when I had to pay child care expenses (my daughters are 17 and 14 now), I had to pay for childcare throughout the summer, regardless if I used it or not, just to "hold my spot." It annoyed me BIG TIME to have to pay when I didn't use it, but it didn't seem cost effective to drive 30 miles unnecessarily to put my daughter in daycare when I didn't have to.
ETA: State base pay for a Bachelor's and 0-2 years of experience is $33,424. Local supplement boosts it to $42,000. Doctorate with 29+ years is $89,254. I am in metro Atlanta.
(Put your dukes down, Tami. I'm not talking about you or about Texas.)
State pensions for teachers have been a contentious issue where I am so I thought it would be fitting to mention here.
I live in Rhode Island where there are currently over 900 retired teachers receiving state pensions of over 2 million each. Yes, each.
Some of them retired early and started collecting in their 40's (before a new reform was enacted just a few years ago that raised the retirement age to 62, for state workers eligible to collect pension).
Just an example for fun, there's a retired teacher in Providence who who has been paid $478,871 since her retirement in 1990 at age 43. I don't shed many tears for the 20 or so years that she only made $35k as a hard-working teacher.
I'll come back and add some links.
Lol Kevin.
Here in TX we are forced to contribute to abysmal Teacher Retirement System. It's been poorly managed for years, but we have no Union and have little rights/say about the whole process. Benefits are just as crappy. They have no increased insurance contributions in years. The state pays $225 for a single employee's insurance for the most basic highest deductible insurance.. This doesn't not cover the cost of that employee's instance so the they have to pay OOP for that. I think Eric pays an additional $100-150 a month just for him. I pay $800 a month for J and myself and my coverage is still pretty crappy. We have to hit $10,000 deductible before insurance pays out at 100%. We don't get a say in our insurance providers or anything like that.
We are on the 80 rule, meaning our age + our yrs of experience must equal 80 before we are eligible for retirement. So no early exiting.
PA is in a similar state regarding its teacher pension. With the 80 rule, someone could be 55 with 25 years of teaching experience and then retire with something approaching 70% of his/her last 5 years' average salary, correct? Retirement at 55 seems pretty early to me.
Post by balletofangels on Oct 6, 2015 11:22:03 GMT -5
I wish I had the energy for this post, but I just don't.
To add some info: All teachers in my district prek-12 fall on the same pay scale. Also, my DH is much better commendation for coaching (I think in the neighborhood of 6k for head coaching) so I'm very surprised to see what other coaches make.
School District of Philadelphia lists a starting salary of $45,360 with a bachelor's. Of course, you have to buy your own supplies because each teacher is only given one ream of paper per year.
When I left teaching (HCOL area) after 10 years I was making 65k with a masters plus 15. I was also mandated to put 11% of that into the retirement fund. Plus due to budget cuts I was buying my own supplies. I taught summer school for an additional 1.5k every summer until I had kids. Again due to budget cuts there was no reimbursement for professional development so in order to maintain my license, I often spent my summers completing my PDPs at my own expense.
PA is in a similar state regarding its teacher pension. With the 80 rule, someone could be 55 with 25 years of teaching experience and then retire with something approaching 70% of his/her last 5 years' average salary, correct? Retirement at 55 seems pretty early to me.
Ours is based on our highest 3 years.
Ours is a lot like that, except 85 and out instead of 80. My district is one of the better paying districts, starting at 38k. But, our insurance is a lot like TamiTaylor's and we pay about the same for us to have pretty crappy coverage, in which we have no say. (tried getting it on our own, but that was about the same)
lol tami, I agree, bad time to talk about teachers/coaches getting paid plenty...football season is not a money maker!!
The Boston Public Schools teacher's union is one of the strongest unions- teacher or not- in the country. Teachers here start in the low 50's and top out at $105k. I'm friends with a BPS principal in one of the worst areas in the city and she has shared with me lots of her opinions about the union and how it's antiquated processes, procedures and costs are really harming the students. I'd love to hear from a BPS teacher if they could share their take on it. (As a principal, she's not covered under the union contract and her job is annually renewable (zero job security) whereas it's almost impossible to fire a non-performing teacher in BPS from what she says. I do think those teachers have a sizable mandatory retirement contribution into the pension system.
I legitimately don't know how the coaching thing works.
Are teachers recruited based on being able to coach football, and then a job is found for them?
Or are existing teachers just asked to consider coaching the school's team?
I agree that the coaching stipends seem very low for the hours. The time could be much better spent (or much better compensated, at least) by doing some tutoring.
Do teachers HAVE to coach? Are they doing it because they love it and the money is just a bonus? What would happen if no one stepped up?
Post by Jalapeñomel on Oct 6, 2015 12:01:33 GMT -5
NYC: starting pay is $48,800 a year straight out of college. Insurance is like $50 a month (I have my DH's insurance) with free dental, vision, and life.
We are the sixth largest district in our state and are paid well, I think.
Starting wage with just a bachelor's degree is around 32-33. We get increases each year for longevity, as well was increased pay with every nine credits of approved education courses.
I am currently at year eight and have a master's degree plus 18 credits and am around 60. If I never took another class past my bachelor's degree and just had longevity movement, I'd be around 52. By the time I'm at year ten and continue taking the course path I am on right now, I will max out for class movement at master's plus 45 credits and will be around 70. Each year I can still increase with longevity pay.
Post by irishbride2 on Oct 6, 2015 12:06:17 GMT -5
It varies so much. If I taught locally in a public school I would earn 46,000 based on my years of experience and my education. If I taught in my old district (Baltimore) I would earn 80,000. The COL is fairly comparable.
Post by liverandonions on Oct 6, 2015 12:25:25 GMT -5
My sister is a teacher in Texas and one of her friends posted their salary schedule. A teacher over 10 years with a masters degree makes $58k. My husbands school district in nor cal for a similar position is approximately $70k
School District of Philadelphia lists a starting salary of $45,360 with a bachelor's. Of course, you have to buy your own supplies because each teacher is only given one ream of paper per year.
Yup.
I started out at $42k, as I worked at a charter school with no pay scale.
School District of Philadelphia lists a starting salary of $45,360 with a bachelor's. Of course, you have to buy your own supplies because each teacher is only given one ream of paper per year.
Yup.
I started out at $42k, as I worked at a charter school with no pay scale.
Fucking Arlene Ackerman and her million dollar payout.