School teachers play an important role in the intellectual and social development of our children. They provide the environment and the tools for students to turn into responsible adults. The importance of their job is so great that it cannot be accurately measured. However, aside from the fact that teachers are all heroes for the results that are produced by their work, what is the actual monetary value that a teaching job is worth.
In order for one to become an elementary or secondary education teacher, they need to have a bachelor’s degree, usually a BA. Often, that degree includes some type of formal training in education, but some states offer an alternative licensing credential for a person who has a bachelor’s degree without an emphasis in teaching. A teacher also needs to have a teaching certificate that is issued through their state. Every state has a specific process for obtaining a teaching certificate.
A teacher’s salary depends on a great number of variables. Salaries vary with the area that one teaches in. They also depend on the number of years of teaching experience that one has, their level of education, the type of school or grade level that they are teaching at, the type or number of subjects being taught. In addition, their class size, number of classes, and teaching abilities, all can factor in to the amount of their salary.
According to some recent surveys, the average elementary school teacher’s salary during the 2009-2010 school year is between $40,000 and $49,000 per year. Starting salaries for new teachers are as low as $25,000 per year, while more experienced teachers are getting paid up to $80,000 per year. Secondary education teachers make around $5,000 per year more than elementary school teachers do. Plus, most of all teachers are usually supplied with medical/dental insurance and retirement. Plus, many teachers only work 9 month out of the year. However, the average salary in the United States for someone with a bachelor’s degree starts around $39,000 per year (less than one year experience) and goes to about $75,000 per year. (more than 20 years experience)
One must take into consideration the benefit packages that come with teaching and that teachers often don’t work the entire year. Although, even with these things taken into consideration, their average salary still seems quite low in comparison with the national average of those with the same level of education.
