Earnings

Median annual earnings of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teacher/teaching profession ranged from $41,400 to $45,920 in May 2004; the lowest 10 percent earned $26,730 to $31,180; the top 10 percent earned $66,240 to $71,370. Median earnings for preschool teacher/teaching profession were $20,980.

According to the American Federation of teacher/teaching profession, beginning teacher/teaching profession with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $31,704 in the 2003–04 school year. The estimated average salary of all public elementary and secondary school teacher/teaching profession in the 2003–04 school year was $46,597. Private school teacher/teaching profession generally earn less than public school teacher/teaching profession, but may be given other benefits, such as free or subsidized housing.

In 2004, more than half of all elementary, middle, and secondary school teacher/teaching profession belonged to unions—mainly the American Federation of teacher/teaching profession and the National Education Association—that bargain with school systems over wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. Fewer preschool and kindergarten teacher/teaching profession were union members—about 17 percent in 2004.

teacher/teaching profession can boost their salary in a number of ways. In some schools, teacher/teaching profession receive extra pay for coaching sports and working with students in extracurricular activities. Getting a master’s degree or national certification often results in a raise in pay, as does acting as a mentor. Some teacher/teaching profession earn extra income during the summer by teaching summer school or performing other jobs in the school system.