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For some time in Ohio, teachers were required by law to obtain a master's degree within some period of time after getting their license. This requirement was recently eliminated, but school districts still bump pay significantly (moving them to a completely different level on the salary schedule) for teachers that receive an advanced degree. However it seems that there is a movement away from compensating teachers for getting a master's degree, eliminating automatic increases and relying more on "merit" based compensation schemes.
I realize that it's different from state to state, but I'm wondering if the general sense is that this trend is going to continue to grow and that perhaps the monetary return for getting a master's degree (compared to the cost in loans to pay for the degree) may make it less worth it? I really want to pursue a master's degree to become an elementary/middle school math specialist, but I'm just not certain that I can afford to take out more loans to do so if there's no longer going to be any monetary offset in the long-run. Thoughts?
I know the quickest way, to get to the top of the pay scale is a Masters. I had a Masters plus 30, and two additional lanes, by the time I was 30. I have no clue why anyone teaches
For 20 years and only has a BA.
But, do not go into debt for it. There are funded programs.
Last edited by jasper12; 05-23-2013 at 08:46 PM..
Reason: Eeit
I feel it's worth it. The pay difference for me between a BS/BA and a Masters is about $5,600 a year. I took classes the district provides to get pay bumps at BA +15 and BA +30. Then for the Masters the district reimbursed one course a year, so I paid for 8 of the 10 classes.
If you work for a public school, the pay is worth it!
For now. So many states are eliminating or trying to eliminate pay steps for senority and degrees. Michigan is currently discussing the elimination of allk pay increases that are not MERIT based.
For now. So many states are eliminating or trying to eliminate pay steps for senority and degrees. Michigan is currently discussing the elimination of allk pay increases that are not MERIT based.
Yeah that's my concern and why I was asking this question. Obviously no one can say for certain what's going to happen, but if I'm reading the tea leaves correctly there seems to be an unabated movement towards eliminating pay steps for advanced education. The one potential positive would be that getting this type of master's degree could perhaps qualify me for math leadership positions (such as department head at a school all the way up to potentially school district administrator for curriculum/instruction), which would definitely make it worth it, even without any kind of an automatic step increase. I just worry about worst case scenario if none of that pans out. Graduate school is too expensive to not have some sort of payback for attending.
I don't know what amount would be considered "worth it"... but a starting teacher here in my area with a Master's makes about $1100 more per year than someone with just a BA and down the road, this increases with experience, and the difference is closer to $2000 a year.
I understand why one of my teacher friends doesn't consider it to be worth the time and expense at this point in her teaching career (she's been teaching for about 20 years) -- getting her Master's would give her a bump of about $1700 a year.
It would not be worth it to me, working in Central California. I am at the top of the salary schedule, and having a Masters would raise my pay, I believe, $1100 per year ($100 per mo.) During the early part of my career, it paid $500 per year, then later, $800 per year. I earned an equal amt. of credits doing low-cost weekend classes and free inservices. The increased pay would not have covered the cost of university classes towards a Master's. OTH, if I had wanted to become an Administrator, that would have been the way to go.
BTW: I already possess more knowledge about my subject area than I am able to use at Middle-school level, so I wouldn't have earned it to become a better teacher.
It would not be worth it to me, working in Central California. I am at the top of the salary schedule, and having a Masters would raise my pay, I believe, $1100 per year ($100 per mo.) During the early part of my career, it paid $500 per year, then later, $800 per year. I earned an equal amt. of credits doing low-cost weekend classes and free inservices. The increased pay would not have covered the cost of university classes towards a Master's. OTH, if I had wanted to become an Administrator, that would have been the way to go.
BTW: I already possess more knowledge about my subject area than I am able to use at Middle-school level, so I wouldn't have earned it to become a better teacher.
That doesn't seem like it would be worth it. We get $1,500 extra for a BA +15. $3,000 for a BA +30. 15 credits are pretty easy to pick up through Academy courses the district offers.
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