It is reported that 71% of teachers nationwide have to work at least one second role to build ends meet! This is criminal!
My sister-in-law and her husband are both HS teachers in Ohio. With 2 kids and aging parents needing aid, they are “broke” for all intents and purposes even while living modestly. Make it produce sense
Upvoters58
116 Comments
People aren’t angry enough. Teachers have been asked to be the cultivators of the future, while being mandated reporters, nurses, advocates, while being bullied by administration into believing that they are inadequate and incapable, and not providing safeguards from parents w...
Actually most non-teachers are angry at the curriculum and blame teachers whether its their fault or not. In some poorer rural areas teachers make much more than struggling families so I don't think anyone is getting angry about it anytime soon.
Teachers aren’t the only people in that position, why would someone in the same position who isn’t a teacher specifically take up for teachers?
Summers off hardly compensates for the 60+ hours/week we work during the school year.
In Arizona, I had to work 2 jobs. In Oregon, I work one. Best decision ever was to move to an area with a stronger union, not that everyone always has this option.
Same, but I moved from Florida to Oregon. Financial freedom definitely lightens the heart
Looking to leave az for the same reason :( which sucks because I really love the area I work in.
Arizona pay is very low, and it's not a cheap state to live in like it used to be. Most teachers in my school live with 1 or 2 roommates. When rent for a single BR apartment is 2 and a half weeks salary, you start to think about leaving. I've got maybe one more year in Phoe...
Try working as a para. They’re basically wage slaves who make less than the students that work at McDonald’s
So this is an honest question, if you can make more at McDonald’s, why don’t you?
Thats why I work for an agency. Yes I can be moved around but I also make 10 dollars more an hour (25) than people hired directly from the district. Once I complete my RBT training ill be at 30. I see other states (im from PA) pay and I would never do this job for that pay.
Yup, I do bus monitoring, after school daycare and summer school in addition to my para duties. I still don’t break 30k/year.
I think something non teachers don’t understand is the amount of trauma and stress in our bodies come the end of may. I take several weeks to decompress every summer
Trauma and stress? It’s lease go work at a level one trauma center then compare the two.
Most teachers don't understand how easy the job is compared to more stressful jobs. If it were as stressful and low paying as they always complain, no one would do it. Certainly not skilled people.
>I take several weeks to decompress every summer You can be mad all you want but the fact that you get summers off to decompress literally makes the job part time. 186 days ( on average) vs 260 per year is a world of difference that most people are required to work. I...
I spent 6 of my 12 years working 20+ hours a week at target while teaching. Fortunately now I am in a great district with great pay and benefits. Should cross 6 figures next year
Every day I regret my major more and more I'm gonna have to marry rich
No. You will have to divorce someone rich.
My husband isn’t rich, but he definitely makes enough income for me to work the job I want. I feel so blessed to have him. Our union is currently on strike and he is the only reason I can do that.
If there was universal healthcare, maybe that wouldn’t be the case
Why? Most teachers, I know have at least some kind of health plans through work, maybe not 100% but often it’s highly subsidized. Except for exceptions, of course…
My brother works as a teacher in Canada. Im in the USA. He works 2 jobs even though they have free Healthcare. I think its the cost of living going up. His rent is 3200 a month
I work all week as a teacher and then work at a brewery. As much as I wish I could just work as a teacher, the state of the economy is, as you stated, criminal.
I do. It’s actually been more rare for me not to over the years.
Only time I didn’t was during Covid
That seems strange, OP. According to a basic search, Ohio pay seems decent. Dual income teachers should be pulling in a little over 100k per year at the lowest step. Granted 100k ain't what it used to be, but it certainly wouldn't qualify as broke.
Especially during an economic downturn when lots of families are struggling. It's understandble everyone wants more money, but most americans are not that concerned about teacher's salaries.
Reported where?
To each their own but I’ve taught 16 years now, never had a second job, and I think our profession complains the most of any other profession. I know it’s a place to vent but maybe vent to your inner circle. We look awful here complaining. Many have it much worse. I make 75k ...
I think the exact same. Some teachers are paid dirt and that absolutely warrants kvetching, but a lot of teachers are doing well and for some reason still moaning and groaning. I also dislike the whole patronizing 'teachers are heroes!' crap. Like any other category of people,...
Our culture does not value education. I also think that we don’t value children much.
100%. And that second part is becoming more and more obvious.
I've heard this numbers like this bandied about and I always wonder how many of these teachers are counting stipended work (like coaching) as second jobs. Not to say that there it shouldn't be counted, but just a curiosity.
Same. Also side hustles/monetized hobbies.
I got a stipend as a band director for concerts, trips, parades and festivals- it was about $700
I think about half of our teachers have some kind of second job / side hustle / farm that they work at outside of school. The stipends that we get for different extracurriculars are usually only $500 to $1000.
Every teacher in this sub does nothing but complain that their students can't read. As such, they're probably getting paid enough for the job that they're doing.
I do private tutoring 5-6 hours a week, summer curriculum writing, 1099 work writing educational content for different companies, and I’ve been a fitness instructor all at the same time while teaching to make ends meet. Only thing I’ve dropped is fitness instructor because I h...
Been in it for five years. I've never not had a second job. I always do an extra job in the summer for sure, and normally pick up some odd jobs or coach during the school year. I really like coaching, but that salary is so pitiful for the commitment that this year I stepped ...
Coach here, 3 1/2 years in, I’m done after this current season lol
Come on now. It’s largely purely by choice, due to the summer schedule being free.
I am working 2 jobs. Have for 8 years. I live in the DFW and the cost of living is so high and our insurance is crazy high. So yes it is necessary sometimes to work 2 jobs
Yeah, this is like, "I teach and coach". This is rage bait.
Now you understand why my wife and I (both teachers) only had one child. We spent a weekend running spreadsheets to see if we could afford to have any more. That Monday I had an appt for end of the same week for a vasectomy.
Most full time jobs don’t get summers off and random weeks off thought out the year.
So that’s 10+ weeks we don’t get paid for in the summer, a week for spring break, two weeks at Christmas. That’s a lot of days to not get paid for! I understood that before I took the job.
Lots of people work two jobs. Why should teaching be any different?
Not me. Love my summers and vacations.
I really only work the 2nd job when I want to. Working in the gas station is honestly a good change of pace during the summers. Pretty mindless.
Interesting. Do you have the link for the article? Would love to read it
I love references to reports that don’t include any links to their source. Weren’t they taught this in school? ;)
the criminals are the owners of society...whoops!
Dang, have a few cousins that are teachers in DFW/Austin. $76k-$80k wages, star grants for another $5k-$10k plus another $25k-$30k from summer jobs. That summer income placed into investments. Most started at $60k plus, speak a second language and Stem for bonuses. Housi...
I haven’t seen housing prices dropping here though. At least for Houston.
Does this include the 3 months off and them taking all the money in 9 months then having to work?
Not 3. 68 days...june 24>Sept. 3
During the school year or in the summer? Working another job in summer makes sense but during the school year it’s too much
It's a seasonal job so...
Having approximately 190 days out of the year where you actually report to work makes it a prime opportunity to earn extra income. You say it like it’s a bad thing.
formal education is one of the most valuable things humanity has invented and has directly contributed to literally everything you enjoy about the world and reduced everything you dont (except apparently liberalism which makes sense for a nazi propaganda bot like you to hate a...
This stat feels like ragebait. A lot of teachers tutor, coach or do something else during the Summer months. I’m a musician and I gig/ tour/ give private lessons throughout the year as my schedule allows. I don’t frame this as “I work 4 jobs to make ends meet,” though.
I suppose perspective can be multi layered , I’m reading comments from teachers in Arizona who are trying to transfer out of state because it takes 2 1/2 paychecks to cover the cost of a one bedroom apartment
USA. Salary levels differ among states and often reflect the degree of unionization and state funding (enormous). This has been the case for years. Si enter at your own risk.
My kids' school listed a bunch of jobs on Indeed for next year, and I was SHOCKED by the pay range. It's fucking criminal. I can't make it make sense. I will say that the $1 billion we're spending each day in Iran would go a long way toward paying teachers wages that reflect ...
Not from the USA, from Spain. Why do you keep teaching? Here many people is trapped in the job because jobs with good salaries and conditions are scarce in a high unemployment country, especially in the south or rural áreas, but that's not the problem in the USA.
I know, in *some* states, where teachers get a pension, *some* don’t get Social Security so if you leave teaching after 10 or 15 years, you’re not getting a full teacher’s pension, and you’re not going to get as much Social Security either.
Everyone’s broke. Ban billionaires. Eat the rich.
I’ve never worked a second job in 20 years and I never will. My wife is also a teacher and we have one kid. We travel pretty extensively and like in a very expensive city, but I’ve always been able to make it work. I’m not really sure how people’s finances work that don’t allo...
Student loans! That is the only difference I can think of is the amount of debt people are taking out to become teacher teachers. I am OK, but I am definitely included in the college loans scam. Fortunate enough to have married into upper middle class.
Most teachers only get paid to work 75% to 80% of the year. So they’re making less than if they worked 100% of the year. So if you took another person in a different job (who worked year-round) who made the same daily rate as a teacher, a teacher is automatically making 20 t...
Unionize?
I agree it’s criminal. I’m a special ed paraprofessional , and I hold a second job whenever I can maintain one, but sometimes my health, or family health issues get in the way. It’s especially hard for those of us who are “single” and don’t have a joint income family. It’s iro...
We’ve got quite a few teachers retiring and a couple have expressed great interest in making their side hustle a full time job. Which with their pension would have them making more money than they currently are.
I drove a mini bus after school and to some events on weekends in the fall. I also taught lessons and was a custodian for a local building. Especially in the fall, I was doing 70-80 hour weeks regularly. Still far far below six figures.
I moved back in with my parents after college. I sell fireworks for 2 weeks in the summer and make 2 months equivalent pay to my teaching contract at year 7, masters education lane. Then I teach summer camp and make about a thousand for 2 weeks. Without either, I would have ze...
I was lucky enough to be gifted enough to pay off a very modest home before prices spiked in '18. If i had to pay a mortgage i would absolutely have to get a second job. I was extremely lucky and i know it. The whole field is no longer tenable, we can't have millions of peop...
I desperately need to work a second job, but have young children who need care. I got into this job to be on the same schedule as my children, but I'm finding that to be a trap because I can't afford to take care of them on my salary. I can't find a part time job that would pa...
Yep. I have two other occasional side gigs. My husband and I are both teachers.
Have you thought about selling plasma? Honest ‘work’ if you have enough circulating plasma volume in body! 🤣😂🤷♂️ /s In all seriousness, teachers are amazing, altruistic folks who all deserve solid six figure salaries! In a just world, imparting knowledge and helping gro...
I have a second job for every season just to make ends meet.
High school teacher with 26 years experience here. I make just over six figures, but I have to work two jobs to do it.
>**aging parents needing help**, they are “broke” for all intents and purposes even while living modestly. Make it make sense Unless the aging parents that you mentioned were former teachers, then I’m not certain (based on the details that you gave) that they’re not making...
I work in the strong union state of Michigan. I work as a full time school librarian and a part-time public librarian to pay for 90% of my bills. My wife works full-time in customer service. I still don't have enough money as my cost of living increases. Insurance, utilities,f...
It isn't just that. We don't get free health care. They offer it for a price and it's not cheap. We don't have job security either. Contracts are for a year and they can decide not to hire you the next year for any reason. Until you get tenure...which where I am means you need...
There are teachers having to grade papers in their car because they're homeless. It's that bad now. This is sad and a horrible situation.
Do city workers get Social security and a pension?, Why teachers don't? Teachers pay has to be increased by 100% for the work they do
Once again we are viewed as worthy or teaching the future generations but no one wants to pay us a living wage.
A second job during July / August - camp counselor, summer school, tutor, etc. is not surprising. Still not being able to make rent, fill the refrigerator, pay utilities… that’s the part that’s “criminal”.
I’m a teacher who married a teacher. Two teachers do alright. The only extra work I do is grade recovery, any extra training and my library days during the summer. (Used to do summer school)
The problem is the only ones reading this are teachers
I honestly consider teaching my contribution to society. Obviously I wouldn't do it if I didn't get paid for it, but I really do believe that teaching is me doing my little part to leave the world a better place than I found it. I could easily make double the money if I work...
You never been to Hawaii? Lol
Most people don't understand how salaries for teachers work in my state of Missouri. We don't get annual COLA, we get steps. These are "here's money for having one more year of experience" increases.. These "increases" amount to only .5% - 1% per year. For several years in Mis...
This isn’t a new problem for teachers at all. I know we like to feel like it is because we’re in it now but I remember back when I was a kid teachers complained about pay. I went into the profession knowing I wouldn’t make much money, the pay sucks, admin sucks, parents REALLY...
A Tufts economic professor explained that local funding of schools lets the grandparents vote against funding their district because it won's affect their grandkids in another district. Also it is the holdover from the times single women could teach, do something mindless, ...
Ohio pays well and they are clearing way over $130k combined. I feel like there is some missing info.
When typing “pay gap among professional” and the teaching profession, I get the following and it’s so disheartening: Public school teachers in the U.S. face a record-high "pay penalty," earning roughly 26% less per week than similar college graduates in other professions as o...
It sounds criminal, but its just the way the U.S rolls. Wait 'til you look at their politics.
You only work 10 months out of the year, what did you expect?
I think they should get overtime for all the work outside of class they do like grading tests and homework and such. If they did that, it would probably even out decently.
Lmao most private sector jobs work less. I know just how rigorous work trips are /s from experience. Most people I know are done with work around 10am on Friday, and the folks I know who work from home probably average 3-4 hours of work per day. Let's not pretend public school...
We need the money for the military and the President Trump's (I won't start a war) peace initiatives.
Don't worry everyone, just remember we are achieving extremely high corporate profits in this country!
This is why the CTU is about as friendly as a porcupine wrapped in barbed wire
Sucks for them. I spend all my wife's money instead
This is why nobody wants to become a teacher in the US. Everywhere else teachers are celebrated and are glazed like crazy, especially in most of Asia
While we cant even tax the billionaires! also School boards continue to give themselves raises!
Most of the school boards around here get a token amount, and I know many of them donate it back to the district.
Don't yall got unions?
Actually, no. Not all teachers have unions available in their district/state.
I have kids, single parent teacher. I now drive uber and have to sleep in my car on the weekends. What’s it like to be in the 29%?