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Most of these "comfortable" teachers have a working spouse, so anybody who says they live "well" on a teacher's salary isn't telling you the whole truth.
The fact is public school teaching pays absolute crap compared to other occupations with similar or less education. That is because 1) it is financed by taxpayer money and 2) because it is female-dominated, and historically it has been assumed that women are supported by men, and therefore they don't need the extra money.
It's almost a MUCH harder job than virtually all private sector jobs because of having to work with kids hours upon hours a day, with different abilities and different personalities. You are "on" all the time--you cannot disassociate yourself from your work like you can in other jobs (like daydreaming or thinking of other things while doing your job). Little of that work can be delegated out, unlike law or even medicine, because of state statutes. You are also sick a great deal of the time if you work with little kids, and that wears you down physically. It's a VERY labor-intensive occupation and few jobs are all-consuming like teaching. Many new teachers find this out, and they get out of the field.
That is just teaching. Now if you are talking about administrators, they ARE paid well almost everywhere in the country and for doing relatively little work, taxpayer funding notwithstanding. Furthermore, it is almost impossible to fire, as opposed to "remove" which is a meaningless term, an administrator unless that administrator happens to be ethical. Teachers are easily fired, their alleged "rights" notwithstanding.
The assumption being made by the OP is that teachers are "overpaid," and that is a brazen lie. "Averages" include senior teachers with 30 years in along with the newbies. It's also ignoring the fact teachers in California and 13 other states don't pay into Social Security, and they get screwed in that regard.
The fact of the matter is fewer and fewer veteran teachers are staying on the job because there has been a concerted effort in recent years to throw them out, claiming they are "ineffective," as a way to save on salaries and pensions.
CA teachers, I HAVE TO ADMIT ARE THE HIGHEST PAID IN THE USA NOW. CA Teachers are maxing out in my district at $91,000 (some districts with their budget cuts have even higher max out scales), and when you factor in the cost of living in CA, we make 17% higher than the national average. I think the average CA teacher salary is $64,000. SO I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT MY SALARY WHAT SO EVER. What is the average teacher salary in your state?
Last time I looked, the average salary for a teacher in Michigan was something in the mid 50's but the cost of living isn't horrible here. I have two masters degrees and will have 6 years experience after this year. Next year, if I still have a job in this district I'll finally break $50K. If I jump to the EAA school in Detroit, I'll make $60K but that's their top. They have an interesting pay scale. $50K to start with zero years experience whether you have a bachelors or a masters, you go to $55K after 3 years and then $60K after 6 years. After that there are stipends for things like being a master teacher or department head but I couldn't find any information on what those might be.
For someone right out of college with a bachelor's degree, an EAA school would pay better than a district for several years. There's a big difference between $42K to start and $50K to start. Had I started at an EAA school (didn't exist yet) I'd be about $50K ahead of the game right now. I'm surprised they're having trouble attracting teachers. At least teachers with a bachelors and no experience.
Let's be aware that this thread is 4 years old. Most of the teachers I know here haven't had a raise in 7 years. And any teacher making in the $90,000 range is either in a very difficult school district, teaching in a 12 month district, teaching alternative ed, or has a PhD and has gone back into teaching from an administrative position (not uncommon here with state budget cuts).
Let's be aware that this thread is 4 years old. Most of the teachers I know here haven't had a raise in 7 years. And any teacher making in the $90,000 range is either in a very difficult school district, teaching in a 12 month district, teaching alternative ed, or has a PhD and has gone back into teaching from an administrative position (not uncommon here with state budget cuts).
Or is high up on the scale in an area with a high cost of living.
Let's be aware that this thread is 4 years old. Most of the teachers I know here haven't had a raise in 7 years. And any teacher making in the $90,000 range is either in a very difficult school district, teaching in a 12 month district, teaching alternative ed, or has a PhD and has gone back into teaching from an administrative position (not uncommon here with state budget cuts).
This thread may be four years old. But after Prop 30 passing in CA, many school districts in CA no longer have furlough days, and most of our salary cuts have be restored.
My school district's salary scale, which has been effective as of July 1, 2013, looks like this. I highlighted the starting salary and the maximum salary. The maximum salary is for teachers who have a MA plus 60 semester hours of college units and 29 years of service. Each number is a step or year of service paid based on the teacher's education levels.
The max is $91,000, but it takes 29 years of experience to get there too. These salaries are based on 183 days, that's paid out of 12 months rather than 10 months. My district is in southern California, which as we all know is a very expensive place to live.
B.A. plus B.A. plus
30 sem. hrs. B.A. plus 45 60 sem. hrs.
B.A. or M.A. sem. Hrs. incl. M.A.
Step I II III IV
1 45,996 48,296 50,710 53,247
2 47,461 49,831 52,325 54,941
3 48,968 51,419 53,990 56,690
4 50,527 53,053 55,706 58,493
5 52,134 54,741 57,478 60,354
6 53,794 56,483 59,307 62,273
7 55,504 58,280 61,193 64,255
8 57,270 60,134 63,141 66,298
9 59,092 62,048 65,147 68,407
10 60,971 64,020 67,220 70,584
11 62,910 66,057 69,359 72,829
12 68,158 71,565 75,145
13 73,840 77,536
14 76,190 80,002
15 82,547
17 77,714 84,198
20 79,268 85,882
23 80,853 87,600
26 82,470 89,352
29 84,119 91,139
PLUS: 5% of step placement through step 15
for earned doctorate (Ed.D. or Ph.D.)
This thread may be four years old. But after Prop 30 passing, my school district's salary scale, which is effective as of August 2013, looks like this. I highlighted the starting salary and the maximum salary. The maximum salary is for teachers who have a MA plus 60 semester hours of college units and 29 years of service. So the max is high but it takes 29 years of experience to get there too. These salaries are based on 183 days, that's paid out of 12 months rather than 10 months. My district is in southern California, which as we all know is a very expensive place to live.
B.A. plus B.A. plus
30 sem. hrs. B.A. plus 45 60 sem. hrs.
B.A. or M.A. sem. Hrs. incl. M.A.
Step I II III IV
1 45,996 48,296 50,710 53,247
2 47,461 49,831 52,325 54,941
3 48,968 51,419 53,990 56,690
4 50,527 53,053 55,706 58,493
5 52,134 54,741 57,478 60,354
6 53,794 56,483 59,307 62,273
7 55,504 58,280 61,193 64,255
8 57,270 60,134 63,141 66,298
9 59,092 62,048 65,147 68,407
10 60,971 64,020 67,220 70,584
11 62,910 66,057 69,359 72,829
12 68,158 71,565 75,145
13 73,840 77,536
14 76,190 80,002
15 82,547
17 77,714 84,198
20 79,268 85,882
23 80,853 87,600
26 82,470 89,352
29 84,119 91,139
PLUS: 5% of step placement through step 15
for earned doctorate (Ed.D. or Ph.D.)
That looks similar to our scale here in suburban DC/Northern VA (another expensive area). I don't know how the COL compares, but the salaries above look to be a bit higher but with more plateaus. Ours doesn't really have any step plateaus until the very top of the scale. With 21 years I think I'd be making $8k more a year where you are, but again, I don't know how the costs compare.
That looks similar to our scale here in suburban DC/Northern VA (another expensive area). I don't know how the COL compares, but the salaries above look to be a bit higher but with more plateaus. Ours doesn't really have any step plateaus until the very top of the scale. With 21 years I think I'd be making $8k more a year where you are, but again, I don't know how the costs compare.
I have 21 years of experience, so I am dead at mid 80s. I am not complaining about my salary; it is a livable wage, not adding in my wife's income. Something my mother taught me as a child, it's not what you make, it's what you do with what you make. That's so true. I act my wage if you get what I mean.
But the average home in my neck of the woods runs around $300,000, and they are quickly rising back to what they were 10 years ago mid 400s. Mind you, if I lived in either Los Angeles or San Diego, then my salary couldn't afford a similar home that would be priced easily at 600 to mid millions depending on the neighborhood. Thus, I live 70 miles north of San Diego, and about 80 miles south east of Los Angeles where the homes are more affordable.
I have 21 years of experience, so I am dead at mid 80s. I am not complaining about my salary; it is a livable wage, not adding in my wife's income. Something my mother taught me as a child, it's not what you make, it's what you do with what you make. That's so true. I act my wage if you get what I mean.
But the average home in my neck of the woods runs around $300,000, and they are quickly rising back to what they were 10 years ago mid 400s. Mind you, if I lived in either Los Angeles or San Diego, then my salary couldn't afford a similar home that would be priced easily at 600 to mid millions depending on the neighborhood. Thus, I live 70 miles north of San Diego, and about 80 miles south east of Los Angeles where the homes are more affordable.
We do "ok" too on two teacher salaries.
This is my 21st year and I'm in the mid $70s. No homes can be had for $300,000 though. $500,000 (and that is towards the low end) is pretty typical for an average, older detached home.
We do "ok" too on two teacher salaries.
This is my 21st year and I'm in the mid $70s. No homes can be had for $300,000 though. $500,000 (and that is towards the low end) is pretty typical for an average, older detached home.
He lives inland where home prices are drastically lower. Where I live, homes usually start over $600,000. Cheaper homes can be found in less desirable cities, though.
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