What do teachers really make?

[USF11]

Re: What do teachers really make?

I was just given the opportunity to be a long-term substitute for a Sr statistics class at our rival high school. It's new to me because before I was just a "regular" substitute where I just had to maintain the class for a day. However, with this long term position I have to take all the normal responsibilities of a teacher including lesson plans. I only observed today but I know it's going to be a great deal of work and I'm ready for the challenge.

To top if off I've been "awarded" a Fr Algebra class during 2nd block. Nice!

The more I think about this and talk to people I believe I'd be better as a counselor or something of that nature. I love working with the HS aged kids but I don't know if I want to teach.

I was gonna be a counselor then I found out that the job market for conselors is really hard to crack and it requires a masters degree.

[MassNole]

Re: What do teachers really make?

This is all I need to know in my area that teachers are vastly overpaid. The average first year teacher in the county I live in makes more than a first year assistant district attorney. Now process this a different way, the teacher who only needs a Bachelors and needs to pass a test (which given the people I know who passed cannot be that hard) gets more than the person who needs a doctorate (3-4 years of additional education) and passed the bar exam (going on a limb, but I'd say it is much harder than the equivalent teaching exam). Lets not get into what happens if said first year teacher has a Masters vs. the Doctorate of an ADA.

[ESPNdeportes]

Re: What do teachers really make?

This is all I need to know in my area that teachers are vastly overpaid. The average first year teacher in the county I live in makes more than a first year assistant district attorney. Now process this a different way, the teacher who only needs a Bachelors and needs to pass a test (which given the people I know who passed cannot be that hard) gets more than the person who needs a doctorate (3-4 years of additional education) and passed the bar exam (going on a limb, but I'd say it is much harder than the equivalent teaching exam). Lets not get into what happens if said first year teacher has a Masters vs. the Doctorate of an ADA.

You're honestly going to complain about a DA's pay?

Teachers may make more initially, but a lawyer has a much, much greater earning potential in the long run. Or they could just join a private firm and make more to begin with, so I have a hard time dwelling up any sympathy for their lack of pay. That said, I respect DA's who work more hours for less pay to provide a public service. And isn't a common pattern for a young lawyer to work a few years in a public office, then switch over to a private firm to make more money?

[ODogg]

Re: What do teachers really make?

You're honestly going to complain about a DA's pay?

Teachers may make more initially, but a lawyer has a much, much greater earning potential in the long run. Or they could just join a private firm and make more to begin with, so I have a hard time dwelling up any sympathy for their lack of pay. That said, I respect DA's who work more hours for less pay to provide a public service. And isn't a common pattern for a young lawyer to work a few years in a public office, then switch over to a private firm to make more money?

Speaking of public service, although I agree teachers should be paid more, the real people who need to be paid more are police and firemen. They are risking their life for about the same money as teachers. Big difference in working long hours and putting up with a lot of crap and risking your life.

[MassNole]

Re: What do teachers really make?

You're honestly going to complain about a DA's pay?

Teachers may make more initially, but a lawyer has a much, much greater earning potential in the long run. Or they could just join a private firm and make more to begin with, so I have a hard time dwelling up any sympathy for their lack of pay. That said, I respect DA's who work more hours for less pay to provide a public service. And isn't a common pattern for a young lawyer to work a few years in a public office, then switch over to a private firm to make more money?

Well I could counter and say teachers could go find jobs at private schools that pay more. However you cut it, it is beyond ridiculous to pay a public employee with a Bachelors more than one with a Doctorate, especially at the entry level. Besides, it isn't like ADA's only work 9 months for that lesser pay.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: What do teachers really make?

Well I could counter and say teachers could go find jobs at private schools that pay more. However you cut it, it is beyond ridiculous to pay a public employee with a Bachelors more than one with a Doctorate, especially at the entry level. Besides, it isn't like ADA's only work 9 months for that lesser pay.

Actually, at least in Ohio, private schools play less than public. A lot less.

[MassNole]

Re: What do teachers really make?

I should have phrased my words more carefully. Would it be fair to presume you mean smaller, probably religiously affiliated private schools? The private schools I meant were those like Northfield Mount Hermon in Northfield, MA or any of the private prep schools in Connecticut.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: What do teachers really make?

I should have phrased my words more carefully. Would it be fair to presume you mean smaller, probably religiously affiliated private schools? The private schools I meant were those like Northfield Mount Hermon in Northfield, MA or any of the private prep schools in Connecticut.

Oh, ok, got it. Yeah, that's what I was talking about. Not really any upper private schools like that in my area.

[ESPNdeportes]

Re: What do teachers really make?

Well I could counter and say teachers could go find jobs at private schools that pay more. However you cut it, it is beyond ridiculous to pay a public employee with a Bachelors more than one with a Doctorate, especially at the entry level. Besides, it isn't like ADA's only work 9 months for that lesser pay.

Yeah, but lawyers still have a greater earning potential.

If you think its ridiculous for lawyers, how do you think it is for doctors? Its a 4-year MD degree, you have to pass 4 different boarding exams, then you work insane hours during residency (a minimum of 3 years) with 30 hour shifts (sometimes 36 hours) every 4th night and you make 40-45 thousand working at a public hospital, with an average debt of over $100,000 some people as high as $250,000 in debt from school.

While I agree in principal that an ADA should make more than a teacher based on schooling, I just can't feel sorry for them because they know going in what the pay would be like- its their choice to accept the job.

[ESPNdeportes]

Re: What do teachers really make?

Speaking of public service, although I agree teachers should be paid more, the real people who need to be paid more are police and firemen. They are risking their life for about the same money as teachers. Big difference in working long hours and putting up with a lot of crap and risking your life.

Agree 100%. One of the nice things though is the great benefits they receive.....at least thats a bit of a consolation. I'd rather have a lower paying job with great benefits than vice-versa.

[ODogg]

Re: What do teachers really make?

Actually, at least in Ohio, private schools play less than public. A lot less.

Doesn't everyone in every thing earn less in Ohio? J/k (i'm from Ohio btw so I think i have the right to note this LOL). Anyways, yeah they may have a lower base salary but the difference is that teachers who are better can get appropriate pay as the pay structure is different. Public schools are pretty well set in what they can pay, regardless of how good (or bad) a teach is, largely because of the unionization.

[TheGamingChef]

Re: What do teachers really make?

Well, at least in Iowa, the private school teacher's base pay is much lower (I don't know the exact figures, but I'm thinking it's about $10-15,000) and on top of that, the private school teachers don't get access to IPERS, the pension fund for public teachers. It's a excellent pension and is probably one of the biggest financial draws to becoming a teacher in Iowa, but like I said, the private ones don't get that.

[MassNole]

Re: What do teachers really make?

Yeah, but lawyers still have a greater earning potential.

If you think its ridiculous for lawyers, how do you think it is for doctors? Its a 4-year MD degree, you have to pass 4 different boarding exams, then you work insane hours during residency (a minimum of 3 years) with 30 hour shifts (sometimes 36 hours) every 4th night and you make 40-45 thousand working at a public hospital, with an average debt of over $100,000 some people as high as $250,000 in debt from school.

While I agree in principal that an ADA should make more than a teacher based on schooling, I just can't feel sorry for them because they know going in what the pay would be like- its their choice to accept the job.

I'd very much agree that those doctors are underpaid. But when you point out their debt, a of law students will have debt of $100k plus unless they went to a public law school.

[ODogg]

Re: What do teachers really make?

Well, at least in Iowa, the private school teacher's base pay is much lower (I don't know the exact figures, but I'm thinking it's about $10-15,000) and on top of that, the private school teachers don't get access to IPERS, the pension fund for public teachers. It's a excellent pension and is probably one of the biggest financial draws to becoming a teacher in Iowa, but like I said, the private ones don't get that.

In the private sector base pay means very little. If it did the everyone in the U.S. who work in the private sector would make roughly the same amount of money. The factor in favor of privatization is the potential, not the base.

[TheGamingChef]

Re: What do teachers really make?

In the private sector base pay means very little. If it did the everyone in the U.S. who work in the private sector would make roughly the same amount of money. The factor in favor of privatization is the potential, not the base.

However, in a school setting, potential income is not far from base pay. A school cannot increase productivity and, therefore, income - its only source of income is tuition. The school therefore has three ways of increasing income - raising tuition, increasing the amount of students, or reducing expenses. As a private school is a competitive business, raising tuition is not a very palatable option from what I've seen (the private school I'm referring to doesn't attract the extreme upper cutting of income). Increasing students requires an increase in teachers, as well - if there is any more room in the school building to begin with, so the increase in income would be negligible. Finally, decreasing pay doesn't happen either, because teachers are already paid near the base, and you can't lay off a teacher without replacing them unless your enrollment is dropping.

Basically my point is that a private school's income is generally static, so there is very little room for an increase in teacher salary.