Is it common for a teacher to have a second job?

Question

i am going to begin working in the school system pretty soon and am having some slight regrets. i have already accepted the fact that i will probably be underpaid the rest of my life and will struggle to make ends meet, especially if i plan on having a family one day. therefore, i am seeking some advice and perhaps some consoling, hehe. is it common for teachers to hold second jobs? if so, what do you recommend for a young male trying to make it on his own in miami, fl? should i go back to school, maybe graduate school? i'm freaking out man

Answer 1

A dose of reality... what you have written certainly shows true understanding of what beginning teachers experience.  I've taught for 23 years and have had plenty of part-time jobs... from putting up tents, to tutoring, to working retail and sales positions, to painting, to providing cleaning services... well, you get the idea.  I also have my master's, so yes, you'll get a boost in pay at most schools.  But look ahead on your teacher salary schedule and see where you will be in ten years... twenty years.  Now, compare that to other districts in your area.  If you're going to stay in teaching, you'll might as well try to be in the best-paying district you can find.  Look for a solid tax base for the community... that's the key.  Don't worry... I still freak out a bit myself, too, man.

Answer 2

I was a first year teacher last year and I held a second job.  I also work a Sylvan Learning Center.  My directors are great.  They let me choose my hours and I work on the weekends and for a short while a couple evenings a week.  I would spend my teaching paycheck and put my Sylvan check in my savings account.

Only go to grad school if that is what you really want.  You may be able to hold out a little longer and get your school district to pay for your grad classes.  That is what my husband did.  His district paid for his entire masters degree.

Answer 3

This is my 9th year teaching, and I have worked a 2nd job every summer until this one (and I should be working one now).  The biggest impact for me has been earning my masters.  The stipend is only 3K more per year, but now I can move up into admin or on to college teaching when I'm tired of the classroom.  It also gave me a great deal of confidence in my teaching abilities.  I feel like I really know what I'm doing.

The biggest impact on my salary was earning National Board Certification (+10K per year).  But not all states pay teachers extra for that, and even my state (FL) may cut our bonus in half this year.  I would pursue this only if my state paid an additional stipend for it.

Most districts have some sort of summer school program for which you can get paid to teach over the summer.  The pay averages out (after you calculate how much time you spend planning/grading) to be $10 an hour or less.  While each person is different, I really don't recommend this.  I spent two summers tutoring kids and when school started in the fall, I felt like I didn't have a summer.

So, I guess my recommendation is this:  Either pursue additional training that will cost you now but pay off later OR spend your summer pursuing a passion that you would never have time for during the school year.  Try to save a little of each paycheck now, and it will pay off well as time goes by.  The financial struggle will get better with time, be patient and be frugal.

Answer 4

Just to comment on this response "P.S. If you moved north ( around NY, Mass , Conn ) your pay would probably almost double. Teachers make nothing in Florida."

The reason that teachers receive more pay in these parts of the country is because living expenses are almost double. Therefore, you wouldn't really be making more. Other than that, I do agree with the previous comment.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, many teachers need to take second jobs to supplement their salaries.  This is especially true during the initial years.   If you go back to school and work on advanced degrees, do it during the early stages of your career.  If you take classes through online programs, make sure that it is an approved program for your state or states you may move to in the future.  As you get established, the financial concerns will become smaller and you will be glad you became an educator.  Also, consider preparing for a school administrators' position.  This is a way to increase your salary quickly but remember that it requires long hours and hard work.

Answer 6

You have all summer to work a second job, which is what most teachers do. Go on and further your education....get a master's degree, or get another degree altogether. BUT, teaching is an honorable profession.

P.S. If you moved north ( around NY, Mass , Conn ) your pay would probably almost double. Teachers make nothing in Florida.

Answer 7

I know my CA teacher worked at Applebees as a waitress. But what I would recommend for you is that since your still young, you should go back to school and get a job that would pay you higher salary than a teacher gets. But that's just me. Good luck !!

Answer 8

I would get your Master's degree so that you could jump up on the pay scale.  You could also get your administrative credential so you could be a V.P. or Principal and make a lot more money. Most teachers I know try to teach summer school for extra income.  Some schools also offer intervention programs before or after school for struggling students and most of them pay for that.  I was able to do that and choose my days that I worked.  One year I did it every morning of the week and the next year I only did it for 2 days.  You could also try to get hooked up with a tutoring compnay (Sylvan, Huntingtons, Etc.)  Good luck and it's worth it!  Both my husband and I are teachers :)