Any teachers in Pittsburgh? (California: property taxes, salary, rent)

[andyjames]

Hey I'm a credential student in Fresno, California. I am very seriously considering a move out of state due to the high cost of living (and the not so high teacher salaries). I like the looks of the Pittsburgh area (I've never visited), and am heavily considering moving there in a few years.

How does the teaching career look in this area? Recommend or no? Cost of living doable?

For instance:

Avg Starting Salary in Fresno: $39,000
Avg Home Price in Fresno: 350,000
Avg Rent in Fresno (3/2 house): $1400/month

Not really a good place to live comfortably as a teacher (unless you have dual salaries). Although by California standards, Fresno is quite affordable.

So anyway...I would appreciate any info you might have.

[suzeeq521]

I wouldn't recomment it at all. Most of our teachers are paid well to very well. And many of the local colleges/universities graduate so many teachers every years.

Which results in very few teaching jobs.

Often, there will be literally 1000's of applicants for a single position. It is a really, really tough market.

[guylocke]

Often, there will be literally 1000's of applicants for a single position. It is a really, really tough market.

That's very true. The teaching market in Pittsburgh is in incredible demand. A friend of mine just got a job in an only okay school district in Pittsburgh and she was one of over 500 applications.

Most of our teachers are paid well to very well.

That's an understatement.

Also, several of the better school districts throw away your application if you haven't maintained a 4.0 throughout your entire college career in education. And that's a fact! They get applicants from teachers from all over the country.

So in that regard, it's a bad idea. However, if you are one of the lucky ones, then yes, it's an excellent idea. There's no harm in applying, that's what I always say.

[kpoeppel]

We are the #1 state for teacher strikes, so if you'd like to raise a little hell at work and extort tax money from your local community, PA is your place! Unfortunately, if you pay property taxes or have school-age children in public schools, PA isn't so great...

[gswpa]

Yeah, if you feel like stealing from the poor in order to make too much money, then Pittsburgh is for you. The Union is strong here, so you have no worries. The extra money will help you pay for all high property taxes the strikes have caused.

[Retiredcoach]

There are teaching opportunities around the Pittsburgh region, but you must bide your time and excel. It would not hurt if you had skills beyond teaching (ex: coaching experience, TV production, computer technology, multiple certifications, etc.) and/or were certified in the critically needed areas (special education, reading specialists, all areas of math...) . Some of the negativity that you are hearing comes from those that have a problem with teacher strikes... binding arbitration and merging the many of the 100's of school districts into more manageable/less duplicated services would save a bundle.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by andyjames

Hey I'm a credential student in Fresno, California. I am very seriously considering a move out of state due to the high cost of living (and the not so high teacher salaries). I like the looks of the Pittsburgh area (I've never visited), and am heavily considering moving there in a few years.

First of all, come and visit the area. See if there is any chemistry between you and Pittsburgh. THEN start your job search.

[MissShona]

I heard somewhere (don't remember where) that Pittsburgh city school teachers are some of the best paid in the country.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by MissShona

I heard somewhere (don't remember where) that Pittsburgh city school teachers are some of the best paid in the country.

I keep reading that on this forum. That is one reason it is hard to find a teaching job in Pgh. Another is the declining school age population. I think a third reason is that people in PA tend to stay put more, not move around as much as people in the west and sunbelt, so there is not as much job turnover.

[jess28]

Originally Posted by MissShona

I heard somewhere (don't remember where) that Pittsburgh city school teachers are some of the best paid in the country.

That's because they are highly educated in comparison with other states. All with Master's and PhDs.