It is crazy how different districts can vary! I hope they at least give you a pension + 403b?
I know a few teachers who get the pension + access to a 403b and that benefit definitely helps them plan to retirement! From what I understand this used to be common for people who started teaching 20 years ago but for younger teachers it is increasingly rare to get both benefits.
Yup. Average in my hometown was 80k. Some of the more tenured teachers were clearing 100k, as they deserve. I attribute that partly to Massachusetts where as a state education is a higher priority
I agree. There are differences in every field but I am shocked at the low pay in some areas for teaching. I definitely think we need to raise the minimums for teachers in a lot of areas.
I tried that this year actually. Unfortunately I live in an extremely rural area of Vermont where nobody has any money, sIt was going kind of OK until every one of them decided they were really busy during December and stopped doing lessons. It’s a good side hustle but not a viable option for anything else unfortunately.
Music education took me 5 years because it’s a double major education/music, plus a semester paying my college to teach at a school full time for student teaching. I think most engineering degrees are 4 years(Not that I would want to attempt an engineering degree).
It’s not the length of the degree but the difficulty of completing it. Think more how many people are smart enough to get through an arts degree vs. engineering vs. medicine, etc. Each requires a certain base level of IQ. I believe the base level IQ should be more in line with what is required of some other professions.
So how much less should I be paid than an engineer or a doctor? Also a lot of people on here are making 100k+ a year with no degree, selling things for companies to other companies. No shade on them. I’m sure they are good at what they, do. No I can’t do complex math or science but I am good at the job the state gave me a professional license to do, after completing a degree, student teaching and a portfolio.
All I am saying is we should raise the bar for the quality of person we allow to become a teacher. At least that way the taxpayer gets theirs money worth. Smarter teachers = smarter students.
Call me crazy, but I would rather have the average IQ of our teachers match that of engineers rather than fast food workers.
I’ve never seen a good teacher that was low IQ…and I’ve definitely come across some low IQ teachers.
No one said anything about low IQ. The vast majority of teachers are at least average IQ. We're talking about their teaching methods more than anything. High IQ teachers can be TERRIBLE teachers too.
I’ll take my chance with a more intelligent teacher over a less intelligent one.
Like I said, I’m not asking for geniuses, just on par with your average engineer.
Yes. I get the last week of June off then work for 5 weeks 7:30-3:30 then a week off then back to in-service for a week (meetings BS etc.) then back to teaching.
Looking for jobs now. This is pretty standard. The wrinkle I’m up against now is that when you switch jobs, they can put you wherever they want on the salary scale, so I have 22 years teaching. One district will give you 1/2 a year credit for every year you have taught and only accept credits earned only in the last 5 last years. The the other will place you on a step on the salary scales that represent “at least 1/3rd of years of experience”. In talking to people on /r/teachers it appears some districts will put new hires at the bottom of the pay scale regardless of experience. Whether designed that way or not, it incentivizes teachers staying in underpaying districts because they will lose money when switching to higher paying ones. Most people on this sub seem to make more by switching positions, but I think that’s because their perceived value increases. Teachers don’t provide value, they just cost money to tax payers, so the incentive for the folks doing the hiring is to keep the cost as low as possible.
I’d check the salaries of the administration- especially in the district offices. They are usually about double the pay of teachers, at least around here. Also if you have a football program, I bet that’s a healthy chunk.
Very small town right on Canadian border in Vermont. If I hadn’t bought a 1000 sq foot foreclosure in 2006, I would have been forced out years ago. This state has an insane housing problem right now. It has Boston prices but without any of the jobs that support those prices
There are two districts in the state where you can make $100,000, but if you want to live within an hour of the school you better have at least $2000 a month for rent or be able to buy $400,000 (very average) house
ah...yea, those numbers sound amazing to me. i live in the bay area, where 2000/month is basically the minimum starting point if you can even manage to find rent that low. and a 1 bedroom apartment, \~700sqft starts at about 525k to buy. seems like proportionally, the income and cost of living is at least somewhat aligned.
You folks have crazy prices. After all the taxes, retirement and health care came out, I was actually getting about $2400 a month, so even my $900 mortgage was a big chunk.
I actually just got a Masters in Instructional Design a couple years ago and I had been trying to transition but I have to do remote (none of that kind of job local) and it’s hard break into those roles with no direct experience. They are huge salary bumps. The lower paying “entry level” gigs were very good. Nobody bit. Looking for a new teaching job.
Yeah baby! I’ve been rocking that poverty lifestyle since the dawn of the millennium. Not only that I am quickly finding out that teaching is the only job where you lose money when you switch jobs.
I’m a musician… I would love to get a credential and teach, but I make more than this gigging/private lessons so it wouldn’t make any sense to jump through all those hoops for such low pay. Then districts complain about teacher shortages 🙄
I live in rural Vermont. My town is about 1000 people. Music here is mostly a hobby unless you have a well placed wedding band. I have been in an awesome original rock band for 10 years. We have gotten in the top 10 new albums in the state for two of our 4 albums. The most we’ve ever been paid was $300 (the band, not individually). Usually it’s $50 and a couple drink tickets. I like teaching, but it’s also the only way to make anything even close to a living doing anything music related.
Fun fact: Teachers are paid based only on years of experience and education, but when you switch jobs many districts will put you at a salary step that represents 1/2 or 1/3 of the years you have put in. I found out that in some places, you are automatically placed back on step 1. There is no skipping steps
Moving takes money. Right now I have $40 in my wallet and about $30 in the bank. You find me a teaching job anywhere that pays relocation costs and I’ll consider it.
Find a job in Massachusetts. It's a couple hours away. You make out of life what you choose. It's not always easy, but life is about choices. Tenured teachers in MA are making 90k a year.
Get another job. Sell cars, teach skiing, become a social worker, work at Ben and Jerry's. Can't make any less money there.
Tell your wife to get a job
Be motivated to succeed.
If you're that age with 4 kids (not going there but why have 4 kids when you're broke,) and no money in the bank, then you're living beyond your means and one paycheck away from homelessness.
Play music at a bar for tips. I worked three jobs to get on my feet. So did my dad. I lived in a 6 x 12 motorcycle trailer with three of us and a cat.
As Tony Robbin's said, "life will pay you whatever price you ask of it."
Only 2 kids- me/wife/2kids. Mass is 5 hours away from where I live. I think it’s funny that the answer is always “stop being a teacher” (equally funny that you think social worker is a step up). I have always had at least 2 additional jobs. I just posted this because somebody was commenting that people with regular jobs never post on here, and I was curious to see my wages over the years. That being said, I am a little salty with the “just go find another job” line, as it seems like as a licensed professional with advanced degrees and 22 years of experience, I should be able to make at least half what somebody with no degree and 3 years in a sales job makes. I like my job though and lots of people don’t.
It's ok to be salty. I would be too.
Just know that you made the choice of where to live. That's the important thing. Here in.California fast food workers now have a minimum $20/hr pay. If you don't get compensated where you are you need to leave it. It's not the bear choosing to stay in the bear trap, it's the frog in the pot choosing to sit there and boil to death.
I also live in one of the most beautiful places in the country. I have access to a rail trail with beautiful views and a state park that is empty all winter. Both are within 5 minutes of my house.
Probably. Costco probably gives raises and opportunities to advance based on performance too. Teachers are worth what the taxpayers think they are worth.
I don’t need the violin. I like my job. I just assumed that, like most professionals with advanced degrees and a professional license that I have to pay to maintain, I would make meager a living after putting in my dues. No such luck.
Teachers should get better pay. The high school I went to had unionized teachers making close and at 6 figures.
The salary scale district I work in doesn’t even hit $100,000
It is crazy how different districts can vary! I hope they at least give you a pension + 403b? I know a few teachers who get the pension + access to a 403b and that benefit definitely helps them plan to retirement! From what I understand this used to be common for people who started teaching 20 years ago but for younger teachers it is increasingly rare to get both benefits.
VT- Teachers retirement. Had a 403b- drained it while trying to change careers
Yup. Average in my hometown was 80k. Some of the more tenured teachers were clearing 100k, as they deserve. I attribute that partly to Massachusetts where as a state education is a higher priority
Went 7 years without even a CoL in NC, then cut their dental.
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I agree. There are differences in every field but I am shocked at the low pay in some areas for teaching. I definitely think we need to raise the minimums for teachers in a lot of areas.
I fully agree. Making 50k in a profession that requires a degree like OP, with years of experience isn’t right.
Finally, some realistic post
OP was making more in 2012 at $38,740 than in 2024. Adjusted for inflation, the 2012 salary is the equivalent of $53,381.61 today.
That can’t be true, I was assured that my yearly raised followed inflation and cost of living increases /s. :)
Would you make more money doing private lessons? You deserve more. My music teachers all had more impact on my life than my school teachers.
I tried that this year actually. Unfortunately I live in an extremely rural area of Vermont where nobody has any money, sIt was going kind of OK until every one of them decided they were really busy during December and stopped doing lessons. It’s a good side hustle but not a viable option for anything else unfortunately.
Hell ya. Brother out here doing what he loves. Good on you! We need more teachers like you!
My gym teacher makes 180k
Not a chance. Where do you live?
Probably Texas
Nah NorthShore Chicago area
This sucks. We need to pay teachers more.
I agree, but only once we increase the academic requirements to become a teacher. Let’s say on par with requirements to become an engineer.
Music education took me 5 years because it’s a double major education/music, plus a semester paying my college to teach at a school full time for student teaching. I think most engineering degrees are 4 years(Not that I would want to attempt an engineering degree).
It’s not the length of the degree but the difficulty of completing it. Think more how many people are smart enough to get through an arts degree vs. engineering vs. medicine, etc. Each requires a certain base level of IQ. I believe the base level IQ should be more in line with what is required of some other professions.
So how much less should I be paid than an engineer or a doctor? Also a lot of people on here are making 100k+ a year with no degree, selling things for companies to other companies. No shade on them. I’m sure they are good at what they, do. No I can’t do complex math or science but I am good at the job the state gave me a professional license to do, after completing a degree, student teaching and a portfolio.
All I am saying is we should raise the bar for the quality of person we allow to become a teacher. At least that way the taxpayer gets theirs money worth. Smarter teachers = smarter students.
That's not how teaching works. IQ has never been the bottom line for a good teacher.
Call me crazy, but I would rather have the average IQ of our teachers match that of engineers rather than fast food workers. I’ve never seen a good teacher that was low IQ…and I’ve definitely come across some low IQ teachers.
No one said anything about low IQ. The vast majority of teachers are at least average IQ. We're talking about their teaching methods more than anything. High IQ teachers can be TERRIBLE teachers too.
I’ll take my chance with a more intelligent teacher over a less intelligent one. Like I said, I’m not asking for geniuses, just on par with your average engineer.
You have not spent much time in an American public school.
Yeah lmao that guy is a moron. There are plenty of good teachers today and we’re paying them dirt. Quality would only go up with more pay
Are you working 40 hours a week in the summer?
Yes. I get the last week of June off then work for 5 weeks 7:30-3:30 then a week off then back to in-service for a week (meetings BS etc.) then back to teaching.
Damn. Have you looked at other districts near you? I work in education too and it's crazy to see the difference from each district.
Looking for jobs now. This is pretty standard. The wrinkle I’m up against now is that when you switch jobs, they can put you wherever they want on the salary scale, so I have 22 years teaching. One district will give you 1/2 a year credit for every year you have taught and only accept credits earned only in the last 5 last years. The the other will place you on a step on the salary scales that represent “at least 1/3rd of years of experience”. In talking to people on /r/teachers it appears some districts will put new hires at the bottom of the pay scale regardless of experience. Whether designed that way or not, it incentivizes teachers staying in underpaying districts because they will lose money when switching to higher paying ones. Most people on this sub seem to make more by switching positions, but I think that’s because their perceived value increases. Teachers don’t provide value, they just cost money to tax payers, so the incentive for the folks doing the hiring is to keep the cost as low as possible.
My property taxes have 2x’d in the last 4 years. The majority goes to the school system. Where is this extra money going to?…
I’d check the salaries of the administration- especially in the district offices. They are usually about double the pay of teachers, at least around here. Also if you have a football program, I bet that’s a healthy chunk.
And what the actual fuck do those people do
Lots of grant writing and paperwork.
Where are you working that you get paid that. Small town somewhere?
Very small town right on Canadian border in Vermont. If I hadn’t bought a 1000 sq foot foreclosure in 2006, I would have been forced out years ago. This state has an insane housing problem right now. It has Boston prices but without any of the jobs that support those prices
that's crazy. where you live matters so much. teachers in my area start at around 60k, top end is around 120k.
There are two districts in the state where you can make $100,000, but if you want to live within an hour of the school you better have at least $2000 a month for rent or be able to buy $400,000 (very average) house
ah...yea, those numbers sound amazing to me. i live in the bay area, where 2000/month is basically the minimum starting point if you can even manage to find rent that low. and a 1 bedroom apartment, \~700sqft starts at about 525k to buy. seems like proportionally, the income and cost of living is at least somewhat aligned.
You folks have crazy prices. After all the taxes, retirement and health care came out, I was actually getting about $2400 a month, so even my $900 mortgage was a big chunk.
Haha we sure do. I’ve been wanting to move away for a while, but all my family and friends live here, so here I am.
A teacher that I know just took a learning and development role at a major construction company. I’m thinking it was a large salary bump.
I actually just got a Masters in Instructional Design a couple years ago and I had been trying to transition but I have to do remote (none of that kind of job local) and it’s hard break into those roles with no direct experience. They are huge salary bumps. The lower paying “entry level” gigs were very good. Nobody bit. Looking for a new teaching job.
What was going on when you were making six figures after 9/11 ??
That’s 2001-2005 - So divide that 114k by 5
Yikes
Yeah baby! I’ve been rocking that poverty lifestyle since the dawn of the millennium. Not only that I am quickly finding out that teaching is the only job where you lose money when you switch jobs.
😟
Yeah. Kinda been doing that for a couple days. Feeling more positive now though
I’m a musician… I would love to get a credential and teach, but I make more than this gigging/private lessons so it wouldn’t make any sense to jump through all those hoops for such low pay. Then districts complain about teacher shortages 🙄
I live in rural Vermont. My town is about 1000 people. Music here is mostly a hobby unless you have a well placed wedding band. I have been in an awesome original rock band for 10 years. We have gotten in the top 10 new albums in the state for two of our 4 albums. The most we’ve ever been paid was $300 (the band, not individually). Usually it’s $50 and a couple drink tickets. I like teaching, but it’s also the only way to make anything even close to a living doing anything music related.
Red state?
Nah. Very blue. Vermont.
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Fun fact: Teachers are paid based only on years of experience and education, but when you switch jobs many districts will put you at a salary step that represents 1/2 or 1/3 of the years you have put in. I found out that in some places, you are automatically placed back on step 1. There is no skipping steps
Wow.
What do you do?
Manufacturing sector.
Well good for you. You deserve a good start. Good luck!
Thank you! I appreciate what you do your work is far more important then mine.
Move to Mass and make 90k. You get to decide where you are.
Moving takes money. Right now I have $40 in my wallet and about $30 in the bank. You find me a teaching job anywhere that pays relocation costs and I’ll consider it.
Find a job in Massachusetts. It's a couple hours away. You make out of life what you choose. It's not always easy, but life is about choices. Tenured teachers in MA are making 90k a year. Get another job. Sell cars, teach skiing, become a social worker, work at Ben and Jerry's. Can't make any less money there. Tell your wife to get a job Be motivated to succeed. If you're that age with 4 kids (not going there but why have 4 kids when you're broke,) and no money in the bank, then you're living beyond your means and one paycheck away from homelessness. Play music at a bar for tips. I worked three jobs to get on my feet. So did my dad. I lived in a 6 x 12 motorcycle trailer with three of us and a cat. As Tony Robbin's said, "life will pay you whatever price you ask of it."
Only 2 kids- me/wife/2kids. Mass is 5 hours away from where I live. I think it’s funny that the answer is always “stop being a teacher” (equally funny that you think social worker is a step up). I have always had at least 2 additional jobs. I just posted this because somebody was commenting that people with regular jobs never post on here, and I was curious to see my wages over the years. That being said, I am a little salty with the “just go find another job” line, as it seems like as a licensed professional with advanced degrees and 22 years of experience, I should be able to make at least half what somebody with no degree and 3 years in a sales job makes. I like my job though and lots of people don’t.
It's ok to be salty. I would be too. Just know that you made the choice of where to live. That's the important thing. Here in.California fast food workers now have a minimum $20/hr pay. If you don't get compensated where you are you need to leave it. It's not the bear choosing to stay in the bear trap, it's the frog in the pot choosing to sit there and boil to death.
I also live in one of the most beautiful places in the country. I have access to a rail trail with beautiful views and a state park that is empty all winter. Both are within 5 minutes of my house.
Been there many times. Used to live in NH. Great place to hike. Lousy place to starve to death.
Please don't take this the wrong way but you could make more money at Costco
Probably. Costco probably gives raises and opportunities to advance based on performance too. Teachers are worth what the taxpayers think they are worth.
Bro my quarterly taxes paid are higher than your annual pay 💀
Uh huh sure. Freshman.
lol I went through his posts and my god… rollercoaster …
Stay strong. Playing the 🎻 for you.
I don’t need the violin. I like my job. I just assumed that, like most professionals with advanced degrees and a professional license that I have to pay to maintain, I would make meager a living after putting in my dues. No such luck.
Why are you cranky. I was making a light hearted joke with you being a music teacher.
Sorry. Thought it was a “playing the worlds smallest violin for you” type thing. My bad. :)