Link to American Federation of Teachers Salary Survey
A new survey out today says teacher pay must increase to ward off that
teacher shortage.
According to the American Federation of Teachers, low pay is the key reason
college graduates choose other careers.
The average beginning teacher salary in Utah is about $22,000.
The national average is just under $26,000.
That's much lower than the starting pay in other fields.
But, many going into the teaching profession say they're not in it for the
money.
Eva Nolen/Secondary Education-Social Studies: "I AM MORE CONCERNED WITH
THE STUDENTS THAN HOW MUCH THEY'LL PAY ME, ALTHOUGH I EXPECT TO BE PAID
WELL."
While education leaders say money isn't the only reason more people are
avoiding the teaching profession, it's a major concern when you consider
starting pay is more than 40-thousand dollars for engineers... more than
30-thousand for liberal arts graduates and business students.
Van Hoffman/Elementary Education: "WE'VE ALL PUT IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF
TIME THEORETICALLY I SUPPOSE THROUGH GRAD SCHOOLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AND HERE WE ARE BASICALLY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN."
The Department of Education says some two million teachers will need to be
hired in the next ten years.
The most critical shortages are in secondary math and science.
School districts are being creative in trying to lure teachers.
Janet Bass/American Federation of Teachers: "A LOT OF DISTRICTS ARE
OFFERING SIGNING BONUSES, HOUSING ALLOWANCES TOP BRING PEOPLE INTO THE
PROFESSION."
Those who're becoming teachers say it's time the nation realized the
importance of the job they're doing.
Eva Nolen: "IF THIS COUNTRY PAID MORE ATTENTION AND PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON
EDUCATION THEN THEY WOULD PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS AND THAT'S WHAT
BOTHERS ME MORE IS THAT KIDS DON'T COME FIRST."
Now, according to the American Federation of Teachers, the state of Utah
ranks 39th on the salary scale.
The average teacher in the state earns $32,981.
That's about 84-percent of the US average of $39,347.
Link to American Federation of Teachers Salary Survey
