Re: What do teachers really make?
I am a teacher in a northwest suburb of Chicago. I can provide a little information:
The job is very rewarding. The relationships you create, as a good/responsible/hard-working, teacher are priceless.
Summers off are euphoric. I probably think about work 5-6 times in those three months (June, July, and August) and spend maybe 16 hours doing actual work. Not to mention the other days off for holidays. All told, I have 16 weeks off per year plus almost 20 days in sick/personal time which rolls over each year. I work about 180 days a year.
My department head, full-time teacher with his Masters degree, makes $109,000.
The room for growth in the field is remarkable. There are so many different avenues you CAN go if you so choose. If you decide you want more money, you can go that route as an administrator (principal, superintendent etc.). Counseling offers some unique experiences as well. You can teach at the college level if that interests you (with a Masters degree).
I cannot think of a job I'd trade mine for aside from a professional athlete. But even then, to never have to travel with my job, always be on the same schedule as my kids (no babysitter ever), having weekends, summers, and only working day-shift are all such great perks.
My district pays fairly average. I am in my 2nd year and I make $38,000. Once I get my Masters (one year from now) I will be making right around $45,000 for doing the EXACT same job. It only goes up from there each year on a structured salary grid which rises expontentially each year. Our contract is up after this year so those numbers will actually be a bit higher.
I like these discussions as well. I'll let the cat out of the bag a little bit here by saying, I like to hear the negative talk about my job. I like to think of teaching as a secret between us educators. Until you are a part of it, and get through that first year (wow, that's a lot of work...talk about trading jobs for a week yikes) you have no idea how great of a career, and life, teaching truly is!
3 months from today, I will have two more weeks of work for the next three months; 3 of the most beautiful months of the year. The places I'll see, and the things I'll do during those times, over a lifespan, are priceless to me.
To each his own...Great discussion!
I am a teacher in a northwest suburb of Chicago. I can provide a little information:
The job is very rewarding. The relationships you create, as a good/responsible/hard-working, teacher are priceless.
Summers off are euphoric. I probably think about work 5-6 times in those three months (June, July, and August) and spend maybe 16 hours doing actual work. Not to mention the other days off for holidays. All told, I have 16 weeks off per year plus almost 20 days in sick/personal time which rolls over each year. I work about 180 days a year.
My department head, full-time teacher with his Masters degree, makes $109,000.
The room for growth in the field is remarkable. There are so many different avenues you CAN go if you so choose. If you decide you want more money, you can go that route as an administrator (principal, superintendent etc.). Counseling offers some unique experiences as well. You can teach at the college level if that interests you (with a Masters degree).
I cannot think of a job I'd trade mine for aside from a professional athlete. But even then, to never have to travel with my job, always be on the same schedule as my kids (no babysitter ever), having weekends, summers, and only working day-shift are all such great perks.
My district pays fairly average. I am in my 2nd year and I make $38,000. Once I get my Masters (one year from now) I will be making right around $45,000 for doing the EXACT same job. It only goes up from there each year on a structured salary grid which rises expontentially each year. Our contract is up after this year so those numbers will actually be a bit higher.
I like these discussions as well. I'll let the cat out of the bag a little bit here by saying, I like to hear the negative talk about my job. I like to think of teaching as a secret between us educators. Until you are a part of it, and get through that first year (wow, that's a lot of work...talk about trading jobs for a week yikes) you have no idea how great of a career, and life, teaching truly is!
3 months from today, I will have two more weeks of work for the next three months; 3 of the most beautiful months of the year. The places I'll see, and the things I'll do during those times, over a lifespan, are priceless to me.
To each his own...Great discussion!
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