11 Cents on the Dollar?
March 29, 2007 03:05 PM
Today the AFT releases the latest edition of its annual report on teacher salary. We found that teachers had a tough year in 2005 and that the 2006 data we’ve seen is not much better. And that comes on top of a decade of pretty bad news. Between 1995 and 2005 real average pay for Americans in the private sector rose by $4600. Average teacher pay rose by $487. For every dollar increase in private sector pay over those ten years, teacher pay rose by 11 cents.
Some macro-highlights from the survey:
- The average teacher pay in 2005 was $47,602. Beginning teacher pay was $31,753.
- Average and Beginning wages didn’t keep pace with inflation in 2005
- Real salaries for experienced teachers in the largest cities rose by less than 1 percent in 2006. Average raises for beginning teachers were up by 1.3 percent.
- Between 1995 and 2005 real pay in the private sector rose by 12.7 percent. Real beginning teacher pay rose by 3.3 percent. Average teacher pay rose by 1 percent.
- When compared to professions requiring similar education, real teacher pay rose by less than 1 percent over the five years 2000-2005. Pay for other professions rose by more than 6 percent.
- A beginning teacher with the average student loan burden could expect to spend almost 9 percent of her take home pay on loans in 2006.
- In 15 of the 50 largest cities in America a mid-career teacher can’t afford the median priced home.
Teachers are already paid less than other professionals. If the current trends hold, we’re in the process of seeing teaching become a job where you are paid less than the average salary in the private sector generally. And teachers are already paid less than the average in the public sector. We’re going to continue to have even bigger problems with recruitment and retention as this becomes the case. And it means that we are asking those who really want to devote their professional lives to teaching to sacrifice more and more in order to do so. Which is why we need to work to see that these trends don’t hold. In fact, we think that we need to increase teacher pay by at least 30 percent.
I’m giving you the numbers. But we’ve asked a couple of our favorite bloggers to tell us more about what it means. We’ll be linking to them as their posts go up. Leading off is Dr Homeslice.
No, I understand that teaching is my calling, even if it won' t make me a millionaire. Like I said, I'm not here for the money. Truly dedicated teachers know that they're not walking into a wad of cash when they become a teacher, but our raises should keep pace with inflation, not lose ground to it. We need to be able to attract quality teachers who understand that while they won't be on Mtv's Cribs, they won't have to start going on food stamps and the like while they're teaching.
In the comments, Teacher Ken notes:
But at a time when there is an increasing shortage of skilled teachers, losing experienced teachers because they want to have families, to have decent lives, to have decent living accomodations and commutes that are not oppressive is something we cannot afford.
From Ms. Cornelius:
Now look, I never thought that I would get rich at this gig, nor am I really interested in getting rich. I'd like to be able to afford to send my kids to college, though (let me assure you that teacher pay has not kept up with the rising price of college, either).
From The Rain:
I can't help but wonder why I have to leave my daughter early and get home late so that we can stay even.
And if you think that pay isn't so bad because the benefits are stupendous, check out Mike in Texas.
Read them all. Also, if you are teaching and you blog, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this. We’ll be linking back and revisiting the issue as the week goes on.
Comments
It is an issue. The level of teacher-bashing has gotten so intense that it has become far more difficult to get systems and jurisdictions to provide the increases that would match increases in the cost of living.
I am far more fortunate than most teachers. I teach on one-side of Washington DC and live on the other. I live in Arlington VA, where the average house is now well over 500,000. In my case I bought my house in 1984 when I worked in data processing in the private sector. My wife (a GS-13) and I would not qualify for a mortage today - the market value of our house is over 700,000, and even with the two incomes we have, and with the extra 7,000 a year stipend I get for national board certification, our total income is less than 25% the value of our house.
It has become a problem for some high cost areas to attract or keep teachers.
I teach in Prince George's County MD, where housing prices are substantially less. But even with some breaks for teachers in buying houses or renting apartments, young teachers often cannot afford to live close enough to where they teach. This puts an extended commute upon them in one of nation's most congested metropolitan areas.
Low teacher salary is often no the most important reason for people leaving the field. But at a time when there is an increasing shortage of skilled teachers, losing experienced teachers because they want to have families, to have decent lives, to have decent living accomodations and commutes that are not oppressive is something we cannot afford.
Kudoes to AFT for doing - and publicizing - the study.
Posted by: teacherken | March 29, 2007 05:55 PM
You leave out two convenient facts.
1. Teachers work fewer days per year than the average white collar professional.
2. Teachers in many states (e.g. new jersey) get very lucrative pensions that allow them to retire at age 55 and receive 75% of their highest level salary for THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. Can you name one profession in the private sector that does that for employees? I doubt it.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 29, 2007 08:39 PM
I'm in nearly the same boat as TeacherKen, we have a modest house that would be out of my reach were it not for my wife's salary. This despite the fact I have an advanced degree and 14 years of teaching experience.
Posted by: Mike in Texas | March 30, 2007 06:29 AM
Once again, teacher income averages show where our national priorites are: They are certainly not in public education.
While our 'vacation time' may be not up to the corporate work ethic so instilled in the American professional labor class, and our pensions inherently destabilizing for local state economies, we must continue to ignore and deny any effects of our foolish war spending and squash any debate on the merits of using our off track time to self-refelct and create new ways of reaching youth in 21st century America....
Oh H... E... double toothpicks! Let's just privatize everything and turn teachers into independent contractors. Every man for himself!
Posted by: Gregory S. | March 30, 2007 11:31 AM
do you specialize in hyperbole? no one suggested that we have independent contractors, only that we professionalize the job to match higher white collar salaries on the front end, but end this ridiculous pension retire at 55 package on the back end.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 30, 2007 01:36 PM
Well, sorry to offend you...but you should try some forward thinking in regards to employment trends in the US and the privatization movement in American public education.
To me, your euphemism of 'professionalize the job' means making the school room a mini-factory with the children becoming little workers and the teacher becoming a manager, and 'front end' means a carrot and then a big big stick.
I'm glad I have a pension, that way I won't be at the mercy of sharks when I retire, as so many elderly Americans now are. And my lousy pay does not justify your criticism, no matter how much you may profit from attacks on benefits and collective bargaining past Americans fought long and hard for.
Posted by: Gregory S. | March 30, 2007 05:38 PM
take a class on economic efficiency greg. pension retirement plans that allow americans in white collar jobs to retire at 55 make no sense when you consider how long the average american is living today. econ 101 always taught there is no such thing as a free lunch. we can't have pension plans allowing people to peace out of their jobs at 55 and absorb 25 plus years of their salary at 75% of its highest level.
Why should ANYONE in this economy... be they police officers, firefighters, or teachers be able to stop working at age 55 and collect 75 percent of their highest paycheck for the rest of their lives? What sense does that make when people are living to 80-90 years old. A little commonsense goes a long way.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 31, 2007 03:47 PM