In the United States, each state determines the requirements for getting a license to teach in public schools. Today, all public school teachers must be certified and have a bachelor’s degree (or five years of college work) except in the case of alternative or temporary certification. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are 1.4 million elementary school teachers,[6] 600,000 middle school teachers,[7] and 1 million secondary school teachers employed in the U.S.[8]
In the past, teachers have been paid relatively low salaries. However, average teacher salaries have improved rapidly in recent years. US teachers are generally paid on graduated scales, with income depending on experience. Teachers with more experience and higher education earn more than those with a standard bachelor’s degree and certificate. Salaries vary greatly depending on state, relative cost of living, and grade taught. Salaries also vary within states where wealthy suburban school districts generally have higher salary schedules than other districts. The median salary for all primary and secondary teachers was $46,000 in 2004, with the average entry salary for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree being an estimated $32,000. Median salaries for preschool teachers, however, were less than half the national median for secondary teachers, clock in at an estimated $21,000 in 2004.[9] For high school teachers, median salaries in 2007 ranged from $35,000 in South Dakota to $71,000 in New York, with a national median of $52,000.[10]
Some contracts may include long-term disability insurance, life insurance, emergency/personal leave and investment options.[11] The American Federation of Teachers‘ teacher salary survey for the 2004-05 school year found that the average teacher salary was $47,602.[12] In a salary survey report for K-12 teachers, elementary school teachers had the lowest median salary earning $39,259. High school teachers had the highest median salary earning $41,855.[13]. Many teachers take advantage of the opportunity to increase their income by supervising after-school programs and other extracurricular activities. In addition to monetary compensation, public school teachers may also enjoy greater benefits (like health insurance) compared to other occupations.
