HOT JOB -- Teacher

As our first entry in the New Year, the Salary Sage introduces you to another hot job. What is a hot job?

• A job that is in high demand,
• A job that is well paid,
• A job that has a bright future,
• A job that you don't have to be lucky, wealthy, or a genius to get,
• A job that I consider interesting, challenging and important,
• A job that doesn't have working conditions that would turn most people off.

In previous entries, we have covered such varied jobs as Nuclear Engineer, Cardiovascular Technologist, and Forensic Accountant.

This month's hot job may not be as exotic as the others, but it is arguably the most important -- Teacher. The whole subject of education is enjoying renewed interest and promises, alongside the environment and the economy, to be center stage in our efforts to save our planet and our society.

WHY IS IT HOT?

Currently, about 3.2 million people teach in U.S. public schools, but, according to projections by William Hussar at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) as quoted in Time Magazine (How to Make Great Teachers, Feb 2008), the nation will need to recruit an additional 2.8 million over the next eight years. Some place this estimate as high as 3.9 million. This is a staggering number considering that nation-wide the approximately 800 colleges and universities with teacher education programs turn out fewer than 500,000 new teachers per year. By doing the math, you can see that there should be jobs waiting for each and every one of them.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

We all know what teachers do -- or at least we think we do. Here is how public school teachers spend a typical day:

Classroom Preparation	30%
Classroom Teaching	25%
Grading Student Work	20%
Administration	15%
Personal Student Interaction	4%
Coaching & Extra-Curricular Activities	3%
Parent Interaction	3%

Click here for source of above data.

WHO HIRES THEM?

Teachers, it seems, are everywhere. Here is a short list of the different types of schools:

• Public Schools
• Private Schools
• Charter Schools
• Magnet Schools
• Parochial Schools
• Boarding Schools
• Special Needs Schools

HOW DO YOU BECOME ONE?

All teachers in public schools must have a teaching certificate, which is a license to teach. Some teachers are licensed to teach preschool through grade 3. Others are licensed to teach grades 1 through 6 or 8. Some are licensed to teach middle school or high school. Some have a license to teach a special subject.

You must have a college degree to be a teacher, unless you are teaching a job skill like how to fix cars. You must take classes in education and practice teaching with the help of an experienced teacher.

To be a teacher, you must pass tests in reading, writing, and other subjects. And you have to keep learning. In some States, you have to get a master's degree. You also need computer training in some States.

WHAT IS THE DOWN SIDE?

Teaching is not for the faint of heart. It is a very demanding profession. I taught high school for two years at the beginning of my career and it was hands down the toughest job I have ever had. Statistics prove this out. Nationally, about 50% of teachers quit their jobs within the first five years.

Below are the primary reasons they leave:

1. Lack of support (they feel isolated and disconnected)

2. Student behavior (they can’t handle “bad” students)

3. Low pay (they can often make much more elsewhere)

4. Being overwhelmed (expected to do too much with very little)

5. Legislative and administrative bureaucracy (too much pressure, not enough empathy)

6. Lack of time to prepare (most invest unpaid time in this activity)

7. Too heavy teaching load (often 6 classes per day)

8. Class sizes too large (while that national average is around 25, in some schools this number can exceed 40)

HOW MUCH DO THEY MAKE?

The middle half of public school teachers earn between $35,000 and $60,000. The highest-paid 10 percent earn between $72,000 and $78,000 a year. There is a major movement afoot to add merit pay and bonuses to teacher pay. This is being pushed hard by a new generation of business-minded administrators but it is being opposed with equal fervor by teachers and their unions.

THE BOTTOM LINE

While it is one of the toughest jobs, it is also one of the most rewarding. My experience bears this out. If you are the type of person who wants to make an important contribution to society and in young people's lives, you will find much personal joy and satisfaction in teaching.