Teacher Salary

Maximize Your Teacher Salary

There are many ways that you can maximize your teacher salary. First, you need to accept responsibility that you are the Chief Financial Officer of your life. How often have you heard someone say, "I can't afford that, I'm living on a teacher's salary."

You have entered into a profession that has what I will term a "closed salary system." In the public school system there is salary ladder where teachers earn pay based on degree level, years teaching, and continuing education credits. While there will be salary adjustments based on new contracts, you can expect modest salary increases each year. You'll need to do all you can to maximize your salary.

Teacher salaries vary from town to town, city to city, and country to country. If you are new to the profession, or looking to change schools, the salary offered is one of the considerations you must make. In my experience interviewing new teachers, salary usually does not come up for discussion in the interview process. So, you will need to do a little research.

(Of course there are many other aspects to consider when deciding on which job to take, and salary should never be the only deciding factor, -but of course you know that.)

The good news is that teacher pay is public record so with a little research you can find this information out as you make your decision. The National Educator's Association (NEA) has a listing of average teacher salaries by state for the U.S. There are also many websites with salary information.

There are several ways that you can maximize your salary:

1. Make sure that you are on the correct "step" of your salary ladder. When starting a new job it is okay to try and negotiate if you have other expertise or experience.
2. Read your teaching contract/employment agreement very carefully. Make sure you know all the benefits available to you as well as where each portion of your paycheck is going to. Remember, you are 100% responsible.
3. Set a plan for how you can get to the far end of your salary schedule based on continuing education credits and degree. If you have a Bachelor's degree, then make a plan to begin taking coursework toward your Master's degree. As you gain credits be aware of your district policy for when you can submit credits to move to the next salary step. This is one of the best ways to increase your teaching pay. Most school districts have tuition reimbursement for you to continue your education. This is a great opportunity to save money and eventually make more money.

Look into online teacher education courses for ease of fitting with your busy schedule. Remember we are aiming to work smarter, not harder.

4. Look for ways to earn additional income within your school or district. There may be stipends available for serving on certain committees. There may be opportunities to coach an academic or sports team for additional money. Some districts pay a stipend for experienced teachers to mentor a newer teacher. (*A caution - look at the time-to-effort ratio and make sure that it is something you are going to enjoy that will not be an energy drain.)
5. An option for experienced teachers is to obtain National Board Certification. Most school districts include a pay raise for this distinction provided you keep the certification current. This is a rigorous process and you must have at least 3 years teaching experience to apply. In many cases again, your school district will give tuition toward your certification.

These are some basic strategies to make the most of your teacher salary. There are many other ways you can begin to make more money by capitalizing on your experience and expertise.

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