Most teachers you talk to will tell you they do the job out of a love for the students, and not because they can earn a lot of money. In fact, the United States is behind many other countries in average teacher’s salaries – this is one of the reasons why the country is currently facing a teacher shortage.
That being said, the salaries that teachers earn vary depending on where they live, what school district they work for, and what their educational background is. Typically, teachers in the public school system are eligible for state government benefits, which can go a long way as an incentive.
Average Teacher Earnings
The average salary for a teacher working in the K-12 system was around $45,000/year in 2006. This may seem like a lot – especially when you remember that many teachers get long breaks during the summer and winter months – and often times this high salary is seen as an incentive. However, the downside is that during the months when you are teaching, you could easily work fifty to sixty hours a week between planning lessons and attending parent teacher conferences. Consequently, the pay usually averages out to the same salary as someone who works a consistent forty hours a week all year long.
Of those averages of teacher salaries, the bottom 10% of all teachers earned below $28,000/year, while the top 10% earned around $72,000/year. One of the main reasons that some teachers are able to earn so much more is that some schools offer pay incentives for teachers who coach after-school programs or other extracurricular activities. Also, many teachers who hold master’s degrees will earn more, as they're seen as having more beneficial education to put toward their teaching. Some teachers who have stayed at the same school for a long period of time will also get incentives to stay on. There are a few teachers who even pick up summer jobs during their breaks to earn a little extra income while school is out.
Another factor to consider is that some private schools or higher-end schools in more prominent districts tend to pay better than the average public school. You may want to take these disparities into account when considering where to attend school and look for jobs. However, there are also some programs that offer to pay off your student loans if you work for a set number of years in a lower income school district. Usually, this involves a contract period of two to three years, and can be a great option for teachers who graduate with a large student debt load.
When all these different factors are taken into account, it's hard to estimate exactly what you'll earn as a teacher. In the long run, the earnings of teachers aren't always what most people dream of when they think about going out into the working world, but the benefits of knowing that you're making a difference in the education and development of young minds often makes up for this financial situation.
