Supporting a family on a teacher's salary?

[jhwest]

I just moved to Texas and am amazed how much cheaper groceries are in Utah. I called my friend in Minnesota to complain, and she sais that no state she has lived in in the last five years (Colorado, Illinois or Minnesota) had nearly as cheap groceries as Utah.
Just something to keep in mind. Those little things can add up.

[ellhr]

We lived there for nearly 4 years and my wife was a teacher. The salary was ridiculous. Get ready... teachers are way underpaid. For example, when my wife was in Texas, her starting salary was 30,000. After several years, it was 36,000. We moved to Utah and her starting salary as a Chemistry teacher was 27,000 with her 3 years of experience. This was in Davis Schools - which is well to do.

I wouldn't let it scare you away. Utah is a great place to live - my guess is that you will love it. However, don't undersell the low income level there for being a teacher. Chances are you will have to have dual incomes or get a second job to live a bit more comfortably. When we were there we were living tight - we lived in Clinton (close to Layton) which has really gotten pricier since we left. Still, Utah has some of the most affordable areas in the country and has low low taxes. Good luck!

As far as costs when we were there, we had a mortgage of about 1000, one carpayment at $354. We had one junker car for the winter. We shopped at Super Wal-Mart and Sam's for groceries. Because of the tax breaks Wal-Mart gives, they have built a TON of SuperW's north of Salt Lake in Layton, Syracuse and Clinton. Taxes were low. They will deduct health insurance from your check, but it wont be that much. Maybe $150 a month for you and your family. It maybe more now. Most districts have good benefits. There are many resale shops and recycled toys and kids clothing up there, so that should help with family stuff. You so have a state tax which is something to consider. OH... and the car fees, which is the way that Utah gains some of its money is a bit pricey - but its once a year so its all good. You just have to plan! Groceries will run you $400-500 a month.

Get a small/med yard... watering will cost you in the summer!! I had 1/3 acre and I was watering in constantly in the summer. Hope it helps!

[uli2000]

Cant speak much for Utah, but I live in Eastern Nevada and quite a few of the teachers here left Utah because the wages were so much better here. I live in Ely, and though there arnt as many LDS as in Utah, there is probably 30% or so. Quite a few people from my ward work for the school district as teachers or in administration. But also with this being Nevada, there are the Casinos (very easy to spot), and brothels (which unless you know where they were you woulndt even know). The website is http://www.whitepine.k12.nv.us/ . Im not sure how current the openings list is, though.

[murena99]

Thanks for all the help and advice guys, I know now a lot more about teaching and the cost of livign than I did before. Its starting to sound like the only way we could maintain a reasonable standard of living would be if I get a second job or my wife works. I'm not goign to get a second job because teaching is such a demanding profession. My wife has qualifications and or work experience in the areas of drug counselling, rental property manager, probation and parole officer and aged care. Can anyone comment on the employment prospects for someone with that kind of experience? She is very cconcerned that if we move to Utah she may have to start her career from the bottom of the ladder again and she really doesnt want that.

[jwp529]

I'm not goign to get a second job because teaching is such a demanding profession. My wife has qualifications and or work experience in the areas of drug counselling, rental property manager, probation and parole officer and aged care. Can anyone comment on the employment prospects for someone with that kind of experience? She is very cconcerned that if we move to Utah she may have to start her career from the bottom of the ladder again and she really doesnt want that.[/quote]

Utah is a great place to live and if you really enjoy the close neighbor feeling then a smaller less dense area would be to your liking. Both you and your wife have good creditals and job experience. That would be a plus for you and your family. Most of the previous entries have focused only on the teachers pay and have not addressed what the other potentials are. you have administrative experience as well as teaching experience. If you also have a masters degree or even a PhD, then your salary will be much higher than with only a BA/BA degree. Many schools like to hire foreign teachers because it broadens their overall collective skills and knowledge. I know of teachers who are making over 55K a year and administrators who make over 100K a year here in Utah.

Your spouses creditials are fantastic and there is a need in most places for people to work in law enforcement or even as youth councilors in the school systems and private sector.

One thing about many positons here in Utah is that they do take your training and experience into consideration when they hire and they will "negotiate" salary based on your qualifications and their need. You being from australia and speaking with a slightly different accent will also make it easier for you, and the students will love it. You will find a rapid following from students wanting to lean how to speak australian and your local dialect. "eh mate". I see no reason that your family could not be earning a salary of 60 to 80K a year and be living in a 5 bedroom home in the price range of 200K (with low interest) and still have enough left over to enjoy the style of living that you would like. There are also sdummer jobs that many teachers get that can suppliment their incomes. Remember that most Americans are "spoiled" and cannot seperate their wants and needs from each other. They have had it too good for too long and do not know how to follow a good budget or live within their means. Most foriegners understand what is needs and wants are and plan for them. If you do this you can enjoy a high quality of life and be debt free.

I only purchase what I can afford to pay for at the time of purchase. I have not paid any interest on debts (house, cars, credit cards, loans) now for over 15 years and this alone is like giving myself a 20% raise in salary. Staying out of debt is critically for any place that you live in USA and Utah is cheaper to live than most places. Northern Utah is even cheaper than the Salt Lake/Ogden/Provo metropoitian area.

I highly recommend that you look more into Northern Utah such as "Cache county - Logan area" as prices are very reasonable and opportunities are great. This is one of the fasted growing area's here and because of the family emphasis they are continually builing new schools. It is only 90 miles from Salt Lake city, and the roads are good. Cache Valley is almost like a different world from salt Lake city, as would Salt Lake be different from
Australia.

[musicbean]

Part time job? I'm a teacher and I put in about 60 hours a week. I don't get summers off, either. We go to trainings and CORE academy and required college courses. Where does your father in law work? Maybe I should apply there.

[beagleluv]

My father in law is an elementary school teacher. To quote him directly "Teaching is one of the highest paying part time jobs there is." Home by 4pm, summers off, all major holidays paid and he still manages to live in a 300k house, several new cars. I think the trick to making it in Utah as a teacher is work a full year, I know that sounds harsh and I bet alot of teachers put in unpaid time into their part time job but its probably better spent trying to earn a salary. Most people can't make it on one salary anyways.

I'm an elementary teacher moving to the Ogden area. I've been a teacher for several years, and usually put in 50-60 hrs/wk-and have for many years. In this day and age, if you teach so you reach each child-meaning you teach to the child and not just open a book and expect everyone to learn the same way, there's no way a person can put in any less time. I also am going to a district where I will teach everything including music, art and pe; along with reading, writing, spelling, handwriting, social skills. You get the idea. I'll be doing this with no "breaks" from the time students arrive until they leave-except 25 minutes for lunch.
As a single parent on a teacher's salary, my home went into forclosure. It certainly wasn't a 300K home.