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6 High Paying Cities for K-12 Teachers
What cities pay teachers well? Read and find out.
Editor
6 High Paying US Cities
Teachers don’t get into teaching because of the great salaries, but earning more each paycheck can’t hurt.
1. Los Angeles
Starting Salary with Bachelor’s Degree: $49,497
Starting Salary with Mater’s Degree $55,124
About Los Angels Unified School District:
A major priority in the District is to have a fully certified /licensed teacher in every classroom. The District seeks qualified candidates who are innovative, enthusiastic, and are looking for the opportunity to make a difference. Mathematics, Science and special education are a priority for the District. The District is accepting applications for all subjects.
Interested in exploring a job with LA Unified School District?
Click here to learn more about employment.
2. New York City
Starting Salary with Bachelor’s Degree: $43,436
Starting Salary with Master’s Degree: $48,747
About New York City Public Schools:
Almost 135,000 people work full-time in New York City’s public school system — gifted teachers, principals, administrators, counselors, secretaries, paraprofessionals, custodians, and many, many more. Our shared mission is to provide the 1.1 million students we serve with the kind of education that will give them the tools to thrive in college and careers, and to contribute to their communities.
Interested in exploring a job with New York City Public Schools?
Click here to learn more about employment.
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3. Atlanta
Starting Salary with Bachelor’s Degree: $43,231
Starting Salary with Master’s Degree: $47, 554
About Atlanta Public Schools
99 schools and other educational facilities are serving an estimated 50,000-student population. APS is organized into geographic clusters called School Reform Teams (SRTs), under the supervision of Executive Directors of Schools. 89 schools are classified at Title I schools and 86% of students are African American. 74% of students qualify for free and reduced meals. The ratio of teacher to student is no great than 1:23 at any level.The system’s 3,921 teachers make up 51 percent of APS staff personnel. Forty-five (45) percent of all APS teachers have advanced degrees. APS teachers have, on average, 15 years of classroom experience.
interested in a job with Atlanta Public Schools?
Click here to learn more about employment.
4. Chicago
Starting Salary with Bachelor’s Degree: $43, 233
Starting Salary with Master’s Degree: $46,228
About Chicago Public Schools:
623 Chicago schools employ 24,644 teachers that service 420, 982 students, 48.6% are African- American and 37.6% are Latino. 85.6% of students come from low-income families. The ratio of teacher to student is no great than 1:20. The Chicago Public Schools strives to be the premier urban school district in the country by providing all students and their families with high quality instruction, outstanding academic programs, and comprehensive student development supports to prepare them for the challenges of the world of tomorrow.
Interested in a job with Chicago Public Schools?
Click here to learn more about employment.
5. Houston
Starting Salaries with Bachelor’s Degree: $42,745
Starting Salaries with Master’s Degree: $43,745
About Houston Independent School District:
The Houston Independent School District is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States. Most HISD (Houston Independent School District) schools are assigned to one of five regions (North, East, South, West, and Central) with offices located in communities to give students and parents personalized service and immediate assistance. HISD educates 202,000 students of diverse population: 58% Hispanic, 30% African-American, 9% white, 3% Asian/Pacific. 78% of Houston’s students qualify for free and reduced meals. 55,000 students are limited English proficient, who combine speak more than 90 different native languages. 12,721 teachers service HISD.
Interested in a job with Houston Independent School District?
Click here to learn more about employment.
6. Philadelphia
Starting Salary with Bachelor’s Degree: $39.914
Starting Salary with Master’s Degree: $41,088
About Philadelphia Public Schools:
The School District of Philadelphia is one of the largest in the nation by enrollment, serving a racially and ethnically diverse student population. The district currently has a need for bilingual teachers who speak fluent English, and Spanish, Vietnamese or Chinese. The School District of Philadelphia has approximately 184,560 students in 291 public schools. The District is divided into twelve regions each under the supervision of a Regional Superintendent. The diverse student population represents 64.4% African-America and 15.8% Hispanic as it’s largest ethnicities.
Interested in a job with Philadelphia Public Schools?
Click here to learn more about employment.
© 2008 TheApple
Detroit08
19 days ago
2 comments
Michigan is not too bad, although the economy here is awful with the failing auto industry and districts are losing students so securing a job here may be difficult. Detroit entry level w/Masters is 41, 537. Masters at step 10 (the highest level) is 72, 516. Detroit is one of the lower paid districts in the Metro Detroit area so if you can get in one of the suburbs it's not bad.
Cholsen
about 1 month ago
2 comments
On what salary schedule are you basing your LA numbers. On the 08-9 schedule I have, starting salary is 45,637 + 584 for a masters degree. Am I missing something?
jax
2 months ago
2 comments
I think we're missing the big picture here. I was born and raised in NYC (super expensive). My siblings now live in California (almost as expensive) and I live in one of the suburbs north of Dallas. My sister teaches in San Diego area and despite making considerably more than I make (her and her husbands income is over 120K a year). She, hubby and kids can barely survive with the high cost of living, energy costs, food, outrageous mortgage etc.
I make 45K and am able to live comfortably on that (yes i have children at home and I am a single parent).
The way i see it 43-48K in a super expensive major city like L.A., N.Y. is more like making 20K a year in reality. It's all about:
1) Perspective-- Higher Salary+ Mega High Cost of living=scraping by
VS
A bit Lower Salary+ Substantially Lower Cost of Living+ Controlling spending habits= More comfortable living.
2) Control your spending, simplify your life a bit and you'll be able to hold on to more of your dollars.
I am not suggesting living like a hermit BUT we have to face the facts:
AMERICANS SPEND TOO MUCH ON TOO MUCH CRAP!
I used to be one of those Americans! I had the 3,000 Square foot 4 bedrooms,gameroom, 3 bathroom 3 car garage house in a deluxe neighborhood.
I had all the goodies-cars, motorcycles, china, fine glassware , nice vacations twice a year etc etc. and then it allllll blew up on us (or rather me depending on how you look at it) ---for the curious: Hubby took up with a much younger woman.
But i am soooo glad my life took the turn it did because with that i made an unbelievable discovery--I discovered i was enormously happier with ALOT LESS. A discovery i made when i moved out of my house temporarily on separation until the divorce.
So powerful was this discovery that it prompted me to leave him just about EVERYTHING in the divorce. He kept the house, cars (except for mine), all the contents of the home etc. All i asked for is that he also keep the remaining debts.
So i came out of my marriage with nothing but also DEBT FREE.
I bought a modest 1600 3bedroom/2 bathroom square foot home in a super nice, fairly new neighborhood close to amenities and with a decent driving distance of downtown Dallas.
I have some goodies like 2 TVs (bought at lowcost) Satellite, 2 Computers, Stereo system but that's it!
There are no "Knick nacs" in my home. No multiple cars, or motorcycles or boats, no expensive China, China hutch, sofas, glassware or expensive artwork --nothing.
I can buy these things but ---I CHOSE NOT TO.
I now have only 5 bills-- Electric, Water (including garbage and Sewer), Sattelite, Phone (including DSL internet)--these bills tend to add up to approximately $600/mo. and the mortgage is a smidgen over 1K , food and other essentials add up to about $400/mo= Approx 2K/MO.
Less bills and less junk=less cleaning=less headaches=less stress+ more time for the kids, friends, family and relationships (In other words- more time for what's important)=HAPPIER LIFE.
I am in a wonderful relationship with a man that knows how to treat a woman with respect and affection/attention.
And what about the EX?----Well it seems ex-hub got himself in a bit of a pickle:
Ex-husband is filing for Bankruptcy. I guess that's what happens when you take up with a 22 year old princess that feels the world should be handed to her on a silver platter with no effort on her part. Yes she promptly moved in with him once we separated and quit her job. He picked up the cost of her move, debts, and VERY EXPENSIVE cost of living. Gotta have those cute shoes.
It's amazing what some Men will do for a "Piece"-- LOL
chrawa
3 months ago
2 comments
In maryland incoming teachers make 43 with bachelors on average and 46/ 47 with masters. DC is a little bit more but you will never be able to buy property. Some counties in Maryland pay a little less but they contribute to your retirement.
cassia_sunshine
3 months ago
10 comments
Oh wow I just saw decochick comment, that is awsome! But still does anyone knows about D.C. let me know.
cassia_sunshine
3 months ago
10 comments
I am wondering if anyone knows about the Dallas school district or the D.C. school districts?
Thanks.
cassia
sspence
5 months ago
2 comments
im interested in moving to columbus ohio and teaching science. I have applied to several districts, but have not heard any response, ANY SUGGESTIONS?????? sspence8@yahoo.com
decochick
6 months ago
2 comments
You forgot to add Dallas. The starting salary is $43500 with a Bachelor's, plus a $3500 yearly bonus with a one time $1000-1500 sign on bonus.
hatmaster
6 months ago
4 comments
let's see kudos to whoever wrote the article tis a most laudable effort to keep educators informed.
that being said the article unfortunately only deals in terms of absolute salary.
I've never been to atlanta and chicago, so I have no idea about the 'true' situation there. but houston would definitely probably be in the top 3 if not the top spot I strongly think.
Houston's probably one of the only major cities out there that isn't constrained by natural boundaries (i.e. mountains, lakes, rivers, whatnot) it's smack flat in the middle of a virtual 'desert' so every year the 'sprawl' simply gets much bigger, since it can expand on all sides. instead of the housing market squeezing out the middle class.
quality of life is relatively decent there and the cost of living and food is much lower comparably to most major cities. you pay somewhere in the ballpark of $80 per square foot of housing.
(compared to nearly $1,000 per square foot in manhattan) the housing market is relatively stable and isn't prone to skyrocketing rates it goes up 2-3 percent per year i think.
los angeles on the other hand has cheap food but the land/housing prices are very pricey. it's near hollywood afterall and it's blocked on all sides from expanding. LAX is a rather cramped airport. and the smog. (i.e a cramped airport is a sign that land is at a premium) i could look up some la facts but i'm too lazy :P
new york city starting wages for a janitor i think is somewhere around the ballpark of $16 an hour that's roughly $31K a year :(
Looking around it seems the avg entry job lands $20 an hour...that's nearly $39K a year if what i'm seeing is a full time deal. and starting salary $43K.
and sales tax of 8.375% woohoo.
if you work in new york city or los angles for that matter you won't be able to afford in the city (obviously) proper. 2-3 hour commutes aren't uncommon. Brooklyn i think is nearly an hour or so away and the housing cost is roughly halved. i would think LA and NYC would be #'s 5 and 6 if they would be on the list at all after that
Brooke5
8 months ago
4 comments
It's a shame that we do not get paid more for our services. Without teachers no one would be able to do what they are doing in those professions that make $30,000 more than a teacher. Like somone stated earlier, the cost of living is much higher in those cities that pay more. But I agree, it is not about the money for me, it is about the love that I have for these children, however it would be nice to make a little more.
JessicaMae
9 months ago
72 comments
That is nice and all but i would never care so much about the money rather than the feeling of teaching
tava
9 months ago
22 comments
I''m living in western PA,have been since 2004(Pittsburgh). This city trains alot of teachers but hires very few. I received my Masters in 2006and have teaching certification from the state of Vermont. I've done substitue teaching,tutoring and afterschool programs but I have yet to teach in the classroom at 51 pulling up roots seems so hard to do and then I have to selll a house. Of the six top cities fro high school teachers, which school systems are minority friendly(I'm an Afreican American female). Also what city(ies) have the best cost of living. These salaries are good but what about housing, cost of food and gas and access to public transportation. I love museums,theater, symphonies etc; Which city overall is best for all of these things. Finally I'm a single mom who is about to become an empty nester. Availiblity of men for dating? I know this sounds like alot but I need to know before making any moves.
Thanks,
Tracey Bauknight-Johnson
ktenkely
10 months ago
154 comments
It doesn't matter where you teach...we are underpaid! Based on the cost of living in these cities, I'm not impressed with the "high" pay.
SteveFox
10 months ago
12 comments
I'd be curious to see the comparative cost of living in each of those cities. My guess is that $50,000 in NYC won't go as far as $40K elsewhere. Wherever it is, teachers are invariably underpaid.
Asmaa_92
11 months ago
2 comments
You can't forget that these sports teams are endorsed by ads (i.e. Addidas); the education system is funded by the federal and state goverment.