Commenters on the AJC Get Schooled blog debated a new study that found it takes teachers on average 24 years to reach a salary of $75,000. Among large Georgia districts, the range is 12 years for teachers in the Atlanta system to 22 years in DeKalb County. Most districts are closer to DeKalb than APS. Here is a sampling of reader responses:
UnivProf: I will be 64 in a couple of weeks. I have taught at the college level for more than 30 years. Lest you think this is a "cushy" job and everyone has the summer off, that is not so. I make nowhere close to $75,000 despite my advanced degree, receiving promotions, being approved for tenure, required service on time-consuming committees, writing and proposing new courses, participating in countless webinars to improve my skills and knowledge, serving a stint as department chair, always teaching in the summer and sometimes taking an additional job to see me through the summer months. It's sad that after more than 30 years of teaching, my value to the "institution" is around $56,000 year. Sometimes I hear this little voice in my head that says, "Sucker!"
RetiredMathTeacher: I taught for 34 years, and I never got $75,000. My highest salary was $60,000, and I was able to purchase and pay for a house, drive an adequate car, and have everything I need and a lot of what I want. I also was totally involved in my school, working at least 10 hours a day on most work days, and sometimes 12 to 13 hours a day. I also worked many a Saturday, Sunday afternoon and holiday, whether a summer day or other break time.
Pop: Bottom line: Teachers work about half the number of days in a year. Sweeeeet.
Sugar: Most people who are critical of teachers, especially APS teachers in terms of salary, could not last a day in our shoes. To be honest, based on the daily challenges in most schools, we are underpaid.
Lee: Let's talk about the outdated years-times-degree salary matrices that enable a P.E. teacher with a doctorate to earn $75,000-plus, but not allow you to hire a science or math teacher because they can make more money in the business world. Second, in all these discussions of teacher salary, yes, the number of days worked does matter. Teachers get paid for 190 days of service whereas other professions get paid for 260 work days. A general rule of thumb is to add 25 percent to the teacher salary to normalize it to an outside salary. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average Georgia teacher salary is about $55,000. The average accountant earns $76,000. That appears to be a large difference until you consider the number of days in service. Adding 25 percent to the teacher salary brings it up to $69K.
SouthGaTeacher: Well, considering Georgia teachers haven't had a raise in five or more years demonstrates the political appreciation for these folks who serve as educator, counselor and in loco parentis for our children and grandchildren. There is no job anywhere that demands more time, effort and patience than that of a teacher. Shame on our politicians and society for treating them so shabbily.
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