subject: Teacher Salary Range [print this page] The teacher salary range varies widely depending on the state, the experience level of the teacher and other factors. Teaching a kindergarten class in Wyoming will pay much less than teaching a masters level university class at a college in California, for example. The pay scale for this honorable career depends mostly on the location of the teacher, the level of education the teacher has reached and the seniority of the teacher. Most people dont go into teaching for the money, though they do it because they have a passion to teach and prepare the next generation.
Teacher jobs in public schools across the United States pay an average teacher $51,000, but the higher earners who have been teaching for a very long time earn an average of approximately $74,000. New teachers that have just earned their degree can expect to make about $35,000, but it is only a matter of time until they earn more after regular raises. Continuing education can also provide opportunities for advancement and higher pay. Experienced private school teachers typically make about $10,000 less than their public school counterparts with comparable seniority, though.
The location of the school where you work will greatly affect your teacher salary. Rural schools tend to pay the least, and schools in densely populated metropolitan areas, particularly those on either coast, will tend to pay more. Teachers in the south also tend to make less than those in the north, and any teaching job in an area with a lower cost of living will probably pay less. Getting a masters degree will also put you in a better position than just having your bachelors degree and teaching certificate. The higher degree typically earns the teacher an extra $6,000 per year.
Opportunities for advancement are part of the teaching profession, just like any other career. Certain administrative positions and jobs as principal or vice principal will earn much more, and by getting continuing education, these opportunities will be easier to achieve. There are also jobs leading extracurricular activities such as sports teams, newspapers, yearbook clubs and performing arts, which provide opportunities to earn extra money.
If you are interested in someone explaining the superintendent teaching profession to you in more detail, it would be a good idea to contact the board of education in your area.
