What do Teachers Make?

[hkem1]

This sounds like it describes an excellent teacher.

Unfortunately, this teacher probably works in public school in a suburban wealthy area. Or this teacher probably works in a collegiate prep high school.

If this question was asked of a certain South Walton teacher, the response would be "I make $50,000 a year sitting in my chair playing fantasy football on the computer while my 9th grade world geography class copies notes directly out of the textbook, during class-time."

But, it's ok because that teacher gives his students OPEN-BOOK tests (even the Final) so he doesn't really have to do anything at all.

You're probably thinking "well teachers spend hours outside of class, grading tests and work." Well, he uses class time to have students grade each-others work. Which is a too often occurrence at South Walton.

Don't get me wrong, I know that there are many great teachers who work very hard and are deserving of more credit. I just wish more students had access to them.

 

[Beach Runner]

I'm curious about the question of what teachers make as well. I have been told that here in Georgia, public school teachers can retire after 30 years years of service with the same income they had while working (due to retirement accounts), and they keep their health insurance. I know this is true because I have many acquaintances who retire at 52 (22 years old plus 30 years teaching equals 52).

As a college professor I don't get those benefits. If I retire early, I lose my health insurance. So can't do it.

I have a Ph.D., two M.S. degrees, and a B.S. degree, and am the computer science department chair. I obviously know what I make.

So what does a high school teacher with fewer credentials, let's say an Ed.D. and 10 years experience, make?

 

[Beach Runner]

This sounds like it describes an excellent teacher.

Unfortunately, this teacher probably works in public school in a suburban wealthy area. Or this teacher probably works in a collegiate prep high school.

If this question was asked of a certain South Walton teacher, the response would be "I make $50,000 a year sitting in my chair playing fantasy football on the computer while my 9th grade world geography class copies notes directly out of the textbook, during class-time."

But, it's ok because that teacher gives his students OPEN-BOOK tests (even the Final) so he doesn't really have to do anything at all.

You're probably thinking "well teachers spend hours outside of class, grading tests and work." Well, he uses class time to have students grade each-others work. Which is a too often occurrence at South Walton.

Don't get me wrong, I know that there are many great teachers who work very hard and are deserving of more credit. I just wish more students had access to them.

That's sad. I have colleagues who give multiple-choice tests provided by the textbook authors so that the tests are easy to compose and grade.

I would never do that. According to Bloom's taxonomy, multiple-choice and T-F exams test the lowest level of understanding. When I was a professor at the University of South Carolina, we were not allowed to give multiple-choice/T-F tests. I always give my exams in a manner in which students are forced to verbalize their answers. Yes, it is more work for me to grade them, but I firmly believe in writing across the curriculum.

 

[hkem1]

I'm curious about the question of what teachers make as well. I have been told that here in Georgia, public school teachers can retire after 30 years years of service with the same income they had while working (due to retirement accounts), and they keep their health insurance. I know this is true because I have many acquaintances who retire at 52 (22 years old plus 30 years teaching equals 52).

As a college professor I don't get those benefits. If I retire early, I lose my health insurance. So can't do it.

I have a Ph.D., two M.S. degrees, and a B.S. degree, and am the computer science department chair. I obviously know what I make.

So what does a high school teacher with fewer credentials, let's say an Ed.D. and 10 years experience, make?

Well a lot of that depends on where they teach, but it is very easy to find it usually with simple google search of " (insert district name) pay scale."
I did Arlington school district in Texas and there a Teacher with a general degree and ten years experience makes $49,670 a year.

 

[Beach Runner]

Well a lot of that depends on where they teach, but it is very easy to find it usually with simple google search of " (insert district name) pay scale."
I did Arlington school district in Texas and there a Teacher with a general degree and ten years experience makes $49,670 a year.

Not even a Ph.D. or Ed.D.?

And can this person retire at 52 (graduation age of 22 + 30 years of service) with full benefits?

 

[hkem1]

Not even a Ph.D. or Ed.D.?

And can this person retire at 52 (graduation age of 22 + 30 years of service) with full benefits?

Well for whatever reason the master's degree pay chart begins at 20 years experience, so I don't know what happens before then but the pay for a masters degree is roughly 2,000 dollars more than a general education degree. And a doctorate adds 1500 dollars on top of that.

It differs though with every school district, and I don't know about benefits, that would be interesting to find out.

I would imagine most teachers (not all i know) with doctorates work in private schools, the majority of my teachers have doctorates (not in education but in their field) and they each negotiate their own salaries and presumably all make something different.

They also have the option of living on campus for free which I would think is an extremely tempting benefit.

 

[beachmouse]

In most districts, the difference in pay between masters and terminal degree is marginal enough to effectively not matter in terms of classroom pay. (ie, about as much as being advisor for Latin club) The only teachers who generally go after doctorates are the ones looking to move up to high level management positions in a district outside the classroom.

 

[Beach Runner]

I started teaching as a TA at the University of Florida when I was 22. TA was a joke because I had no supervision in terms of syllabus and grading -- I was the one in charge, not a "teaching assistant." My students were lucky because I cared more about them than working on my Ph.D. dissertation.

Although I did schedule my office hours at the Broward pool so that I could keep my tan going.

Interesting info. If I had to do it over, I would have gone public over private due to the benefits. But when you are under 30, retiring is beyond comprehension, so you make questionable life decisions.

 

[croixbum]

I'm curious about the question of what teachers make as well. I have been told that here in Georgia, public school teachers can retire after 30 years years of service with the same income they had while working (due to retirement accounts), and they keep their health insurance. I know this is true because I have many acquaintances who retire at 52 (22 years old plus 30 years teaching equals 52).

As a college professor I don't get those benefits. If I retire early, I lose my health insurance. So can't do it.

I have a Ph.D., two M.S. degrees, and a B.S. degree, and am the computer science department chair. I obviously know what I make.

So what does a high school teacher with fewer credentials, let's say an Ed.D. and 10 years experience, make?

That is a pretty sweet deal for the Georgia teachers, I retired in Miss with 30 and got about 52 % and I have to pay my own insurance.

 

[Carol G]

I love the original post. My 84 year old father was a music teacher in the Chicago Public School system... I don't really know what his salary was, or what percentage he gets now as his pension. I know that it wasn't very much, but he had a passion for what he did.

Last Christmas my brother and I set him up with a facebook account, and other than us and a few other family members, his friends are all former students who find him to tell him what a difference he made in their lives. And because our last name is rather unique, on more than one occasion I have met people who ask me if I am related to him, and then they tell me what a great teacher he was. It makes me feel proud and humble all at the same time.

Money is not the only thing that matters when you love what you do, and inspire others to find their passion in this world.