Igniting a passion for learning is at the heart of what a teacher does every day. Teachers wear many hats in school. Coach, mentor, role model, confidant, and advisor, are just a few of the roles that teachers assume. The salary of a teacher varies by school type and state. A passion for working with young learners and making a difference are the primary reasons to be a K-12 educator.
Job Description
Most teachers work 9 months and enjoy 3 months off, usually during the summer. The workday for a teacher starts before students arrive. Preparing for a full day of teaching and meeting with colleagues about curriculum changes and school issues often occur early in the morning. A day of teaching is continuous. Generally, elementary school teachers are given a break during the day, when their students attend a specialty class or have lunch. The same is true for secondary school teachers. The role of a teacher doesn’t end when students go home. Communicating with parents, grading papers, and preparing for the next day can require several more hours of work. It is typical for teachers to serve as an advisor or a coach to a student group. This may need even more weekend or evening work. It will also result in growth in school teacher compensation.
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Education Requirements
If you aspire to be a teacher, you should decide the grade level that you want to teach. You can choose from primary education or secondary education. Primary education will allow you to teach Kindergarten through 6th grade. Classes include learning and assessment, multicultural education, educational foundations, technology for teaching and learning, and child psychology. If you are keen on working in a high or middle school, you will take relevant classes and a series of programs in a particular content area. For instance, if your specialty is mathematics, you will take classes to learn how to teach math to high and middle school students. After you are done with the relevant courses for the degree, you will student teach for a semester in a school. The final step to graduating your teaching degree is to pass a state licensure exam.
How Much Do Teachers Make
Careers in Us: The median annual pay for an elementary school teacher was $59,420 in 2019, according to the BLS. A high school teacher made a median yearly pay of $61,660 in the same year. Teachers can earn additional income for serving as a student organization advisor or as an athletic coach(1).
Careers in Europe: An entry-level Primary School Teacher with less than one year experience can expect to make an average total compensation (includes overtime pay, bonus, and tips) of £22,791. An early career Primary School Teacher with 1-5 years of experience earns an average total compensation of £24,817. A mid-career Primary School Teacher with 5-10 years of experience makes an average total compensation of £30,239. A primary school teacher with an experience of 10-20 years earns a total average wage of £32,011. In their late-career (20-plus years), employees make an average total remuneration of £33,864.
Careers in Asia: An entry-level Primary School Teacher with less than one year experience can expect to make an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of S$42,729 (Singapore). An early career Primary School Teacher with 1-5 years of experience earns an average total compensation of S$42,592. A mid-career Primary School Teacher with 5-10 years of experience earns an average total compensation of S$56,007. A Primary School Teacher with an experience of 10-20 years makes an average total compensation of S$66,320. In their late-career (20-plus years), employees earn an average total compensation of S$79,994.
Years of Experience
Experienced teachers can make slightly more. Teaching experience is also a prerequisite assuming other leadership roles or for becoming a school principal.
Job Growth Trend
The growth potential for high school teacher positions is eight percent between now and 2026. Job growth for elementary school teachers is not far behind at seven percent. As enrollment in public schools increases, so will the need for additional teachers.
Job Outlook
According to the BLS, employment growth among high school teachers is expected to grow at a relatively slow rate of seven percent between 2010 and 2020, about half the average rate of growth predicted for all professions. Elementary and kindergarten teachers should enjoy a relatively fast employment growth rate of seventeen percent, and the estimated employment growth rate for preschool teachers is twenty-five percent. More jobs are expected to be available in the South and West, where student enrollment increases the fastest.
