How much do teachers make in a year? Do they get paid during summer vacation too?

Question

I'm thinking of becoming a middle school teacher.

How much would I get paid a year?

And yes, I want the career because the job sounds interesting. Not because of the payment. But my parents are a bit worried that I won't make enough money and I might have to get another job. lol

xD

thanks

Answer 1

I'm surprised to see how many teachers are stating they get paid during summer vacation.

You get paid a yearly salary for the school year, which varies heavily by state and school district.  Some schools allow teachers to continue receiving paychecks during the summer months, which in essence means the paychecks during the school year are smaller to allow summer pay.  Schools are not paying you, though, for your vacation.  It is just money you already earned, postponed in payment for when you are not working.  And not all districts do this...my current one doesn't.  I have to put money aside all school year to budget for my summer.

You won't get rich as a teacher and you will probably have to scrimp and save your first five years, as starting salaries are low compared to other professions.  The only teachers I know who haven't work a second job sometime during their first 5 years, are teachers with a spouse who has a decent income.

However, as others have stated, the benefits are better than most other professions, you have time off on a regular basis, a bit of autonomy, and, most importantly, the knowledge that you are helping others.

Answer 2

Such a heated topic...

I am a high school teacher and have been for 4 years.  

I essentially work 50-60 hours a week (I include grading because I do it every night on my personal time)  I have my bachelors degree, plus 40 hrs, and am currentl working on my Masters.

And I make $33,000.  I have to say that I don't feel it is enough...and I work as a bartender during the summer.  You do get paid throughout the summer because your payheck is spread throughout the entire 12 months.

If I had to do it all over again, I TOTALLY would.  Budget cuts are getting a bit out of control but more than the money I make throughout the year, I make a difference...not many people can honestly say that.

Answer 3

depends where you are in the world!! im studying to be a teacher. where i live (melb) i think it starts at abt 50 000pa, im not sure exactly how it works with the holidays, regardless i don't think it should really be a problem, sure you will never be able to live a luxurious rich life (on teaching alone), but you can live a happy and fullfilling life (if u love what you do)... a much better life than doing something just for the money.

Answer 4

Depends on the district, because some have higher pay scales than others.  I, in fact, do get paid in the summer because I make a salary that is divided into equal bi-weekly payments.  As a full-time teacher with schooling beyond my Bachelor's degree, I make a very comfortable living.  I love teaching, if it is what want to do, go for it!

Answer 5

Interesting that you mentioned MD and NJ, because PA actually pays better than both and has the nation's best retirement plan.

What you're paid varies from district to district, but I'd plan, on the east coast, about 30,000-35.000 as a public school teacher your first year with a Bach.  That can vary by as much as 10,000, depending on where you live.

Then, as you work more years and get more post bachelors credits, you'll make more.  (imagine a table, where across the top is your degrees and down the side are your years of experience.  the numbers increase going across and going down, and the largest numbers are in the bottom right of the table and the smallest are in the top left.)

Whether you get paid in the summer is up to your district.  I do.  Some schools even let you decide.

Most teachers work in the summer their first few summers to make ends meet.  

Private school teachers make, normally, 80% of public school teachers.

One thing that has become pretty universal is you have to have very, very good grades in college to get into an education program.  In Pennsylvania, we have to have over a 3.0 to be accepted into our junior year.

Why  not make an appointment with a teacher you admire and talk to them about it?

Answer 6

In TX it´s about $30K starting off, with just a Bachelor´s and of course teaching certification, which´ll cost you a few thousand...Of course, there is no state income tax here and the cost of living is also lower, so you can get by more easily.

Teaching is notorious for its low pay and it´s not a very respected profession...it´s a challenging job, definitely.  But if you´re smart with your money, you don´t need a second job.  Save a lot, tutor after school, get a summer job if you have time (you might choose instead to further your education and get a Master´s or do teacher workshops), don´t plan on taking luxurious trips even to the spa...it´s possible!  Most of all, love what you do and the money shouldn´t bother you as much.

Answer 7

It varies even within the state. I see some people stating that in Texas, salaries start at $30K. I am in Texas, and my school district is starting at $45K for the 2008-2009 school year.

I have opted to spread my pay throughout an entire calendar year rather than just the school year. I am not very good at budgeting money, so I just knew I wouldn't be able to save for the summer. This was a choice offered to teachers by my school district.

Answer 8

I am a middle school teacher in southern Illinois.  I will be starting my second year in August and make around 34K.  I only have one extracurricular assignment that I get paid for and yes, I do get paid over the summer.  My check is more in the summer than it is during the school year because my district does not take out dues for the teachers association during the summer.

Answer 9

You will probably start somewhere in the low $30,000's, but maybe if you won't be going into the field for a while, the pay will be higher when you do.  The more experience and the more education you have, the more you get paid.  You can increase your salary about $5000 just by having a master's over a bachelor's.  Public schools, private schools, and charter schools all have different pay scales, so you'll have to look into that.  I've had part-time weekend jobs in the past to supplement my pay because I wanted to, not because I had to.  You just have to adjust your lifestyle accordingly.  It is definitely possible to live on a teacher's salary...the question is to what degree of luxury you want to live.  And yes, some school districts allow you to stretch your pay over 12 months instead of 10 so you don't have to budget not getting paid for 2 months.  It is interesting, frustrating, invigorating, satisfying, stressful work, but if it's what you are meant to be doing, you'll love it (although probably not every day).

Answer 10

Salary depends on how much education and experience you have.  It will even vary from state to state and city to city.  Like many people said, you earn a salary that (at my school,) they let you decide if you want your salary just in the 21 weeks you are in school, or if you want them to spread your salary over 26 weeks to make it SEEM like you are getting paid through the summer...it is no different than if you got your 21 pays and saved up money to make end meet during the summer.  Some things to consider about where you want to teach are the educational requirements necessary...for instance in MA you can start teaching with a Bachelor's degree but you must be working towards your Master's and obtain it within 5 years or you are not able to be licensed to teach.  In addition to the degrees, you have to take several tests from the state in order to get licensure.  You won't be living in the lap of luxury for your first couple years teaching and in all honesty, you will probably have to tutor after school or teach summer school during your summers.  It is a very difficult and challenging job that you have to love 110%.  It is becoming more difficult each day with new mandates such as No Child Left Behind and the lack of funding and the general readiness of the population of students who you will be teaching.  I love my job, I live in the NE where the cost of living is pretty high, we have a house, two cars, a Harley...I have my Master's degree plus 15 credits and I teach a graduate course one night a week during evenings to maintain a lifestyle where my husband and I don't have a lot of extra money BUT we have enough for extras like going out to eat once a week and buying the little extras that we want (a dvd, a new outfit...).  You just need to make good financial decisions (rent an inexpensive place for a couple years, pay off your car so that you don't have a car payment, get basic cable, etc.) and you will be able to make ends meet.  Eventually, your salary will increase and the hard times will be a thing of the past...my mom is a teacher and she makes 65,000...I'm on my fourth year teaching with my Master's plus 15 credits and I make 45,000 not including the grad course I teach.  Also, each state should have a department of education website you can go to-with a little exploration, you should be able to see the salary range for each school and or school district.

Answer 11

Teacher salaries vary dramatically.  It depends on the state, the city, etc.  Some rural areas have very low salaries, where some wealthy areas (Deerfield, Illinois) have very high salaries.  You can google the government website called Bureau of Labor and Statistics to get precise answers to the specific places you plan to consider.  That will give you some solid guidance.  Yes, you will be paid during the summer; sometimes you get the choice to be paid over 9 months, but nearly all schools spread it across a year.

Answer 12

It depends on the school district and state you want to work in. No, teachers do not get paid over the summer.

Answer 13

How much money you make depends on where you live and what type of school you teach at.

I teach in Ohio, in a public school.  When I started 5 years ago, I started at around $29,000.  For one person, that is enough to start out with.  If you get married, your husband's income will help.  This year I'll be finishing my master's degree, you get raises each year, and I have extra college credits, so I will be making about $40,000.  A $10,000 pay raise over 5 years is pretty darn good.

Yes, you will get paid during the summer.  You get 26 paychecks, every 2 weeks.  You have to account that you don't get Social Security taken out, which is a plus, but you do have 10% go to your retirement fund.  Insurance is usually good if you are a teacher.  

Middle school or high school is the way to go.  I teach elementary and there are too many teachers and not enough jobs.  Plus, elementary is soooo much more work each day.  Middle school and high school teachers don't have nearly as much preparation needed, but you do have more grading probably.

Teaching is way tougher than you would think.  It is not worth the money you make, so you have to love your job.

Answer 14

Its according to a certain things. Higher education equals bigger pay as well as the longer your there the more you will make. It also varies in which state you reside in. You should google this for a plethora of information. Check the statistics. One thing I do know is that you wont be making a lot but you will benefit others which is good. My assumption is that you wont make nothing under $21k or anything over $38k as a new teacher,

Hope this helps and good luck with your career.

Answer 15

How much you will get paid depends on two things (basically).  1-where you are teaching.  State to state, even city to city there are huge variations.  I'm in So. Cal and in my district no teacher would start below $37,000/yr.  But the cost of living is high here.  Even with the housing market being low, you would never be able to buy on your own around here with that salary.  The second factor is how much education you have.  Typically, a pay scale shows the years you've worked in the vertical column and the units you've earned post BA in the horizontal column.  You get paid more if you've gone to school more.  So you get raises for units and years.  I would suggest looking up some district web pages for the places that interest you.  Many times their pay scale will be published online.  Oh-and most districts will allow you to spread your salary over 10 months or 12-so you can still get checks during the summer.

Answer 16

im from malaysia, i juz knew that my biology teacher earns only rm900 only ! n they will get paid too during summer n for the government teachers, they will get discount when they buy a house!

Answer 17

As you have read salaries vary state to state and depend on years experience and continued education.  For an example:  I've been teaching 22 years and have a Master's Degree I will earn 75,200 this year.  When i started 22 years ago I made 15, 700.  Hopefully this gives you an idea of the earning potential.  But remember to factor in the great benefits - one being superb health care (at least my district) a good retirement plan - particularly if you teach to 30 to 35 years, and of course the all important summers off.

But most importantly be sure you like to teach - unfortuately I see many who were thinking of the perks and not the children.

Good luck to you!

Answer 18

I work for a large suburban school district in Texas and starting pay for new teachers is $44,000 spread out over 12 months.  Most years there is a 3% cost of living raise.  I am required to attend/teach Saturday school and tutor and am paid extra for that at the end of the school year.  

If you major in math or science and want to teach high school math or science you generally are paid a bit more a year (in my district it's $1500) because now you are "highly qualified."