Do you make more teaching elementary or high school?

Question

I just finished my general associates degree and it is now time for me to decide if I want a degree in teaching elementary or high school. I love little kids and I would love to teach math in high school. I do not care for the attitudes of junior high kids so thats not in the picture. So I was just curious if one made more than the other. This obviously will not be my deciding factor but it would be nice to know. Oh and one more thing, teachers do get health insurance, right?

Answer 1

Teachers do get benefits, including health insurance.

The best way to find out which direction to go is check in the area of the country you want to teach in. I wrote to several counties in Wyoming and found out the teacher shortage was a myth at the elementary school level, but starting wages (at that time) was around $30,000.

Before you commit, write to the school superintendent in the state you are interested in. Ask these questions:

1. Is there a shortage of teachers? In what areas?

2. What are the starting wages at elementary level?

3. What are the starting wages at secondary level (high school)?

4. What areas do you suggest I study to be more employable in your state?

5. Are there financial assistance programs available for students training to be teachers in your state?

The last one is pretty important. If you are lucky, they will give financial assistance to students planning on an education degree in the mathematics area. It means you'll be committing to teach in that state for a couple of years, but you'll have fewer student loans to worry about.

Oh, I dropped the idea of going for an education degree when I discovered there was no shortage of teachers. I went straight for the writing career instead and now have seven books published.

Answer 2

In public schools, tTeachers are paid by the school districts in which they teach. In most of these, there is a contract for all teachers, whether they are elementary, middle school or high school teachers. There is usually a pay scale based on the years experience and the degree (BA, MA, PhD) that they have. The more experience, and the higher the degree, the more they are paid.

An elementary teacher with an MA and ten years experience will normally be paid under such a contrract as a high school or middle school teacher.

Nearly all public schools have medical care and retirement plans.


In private schools, there is normally not a contract, and teachers are paid arbitrarily. As a rule, in private schools, women are paid less than men, elementary teachers are paid less than HS teachers, and there is an extra bonus if you know people in the administration.

Private schools pay less as a rule and have poorer or no health insurance.

There are private schools and private schools. Christian academies and traditional private schools for the elite are very different.

The really prestigious private schools (Andover, Choate, St Andrews) pay better than public schools, have decent health insurance and retirement plans, and often provide housing on campus as a part of the job.

Answer 3

As a high school teacher you can become certified to teach many subjects. Unfortunately, the more subjects that you teach the more work you will have. Depending on the school, you could teach several different courses (English 1, Reading, English 2, Journalism, etc) and have up to 6 different classes of students (at around 30 each). So the more different courses you teach the more hours you spend in preparation. In Elementary school you usually teach all the subjects (or share duties with another teacher and teach half of them) but have the same group of students all day (or two groups that are shared between two teachers). I think it would probably be best to go observe classes at both levels before settling on one. There is a huge difference in the curriculum and structure.

Answer 4

I am a teacher and have taught in major districts in multiple states. Teachers all get paid the same within a district. You get paid more by being in the district more years because each year you are there you move up the pay scale. You can also make more by getting more degrees. Masters gets paid more than bachelor's and doctors degree gets paid most. Also if the area is a high need area you may get a bonus. For example these areas are usually always the same... math and science. Sometimes English. Most school systems want you to have a master's degree or if you are hired and don't have one they give you like 3 years to get one. But the biggest pay difference is from school district to school district. Bigger city schools pay more but ate a bigger pain to work for because of staff personality insecurities and things like more strict requirements on paperwork. Smaller towns pay way less but are better to work for because people are more down to earth and you get more respect and safe

Answer 5

Seconday and Elementary teachers both make the same amount of money. The only thing that would be different between the two levels is experince.....the more you work, the more money you make. So, I think the choice you need to make is do you want to work in an elementary school or high school? Also, teachers do get health insurance, but disticts have different benefits.

Answer 6

It's interesting that u ask, becuase teaching in the elementary school mean's, moulding and shaping people of tomarow.

So alot of special care is needed. In teaching elementary pupils you,yes you will be ensureing that student does well in high school, meaning that those same attitude problems can be eliminated to an extent in junior high's of the future. depending on how well you communicate with them.

As i understand it, sometimes teachers are not treated properly,however this should not let you lose sight of were your dream lies. And alot depends on how you feel interms of monetary condition's, of both level's. in the end you'll make the right decision, whether you want to mould or contnue a process of just adding. They should provide insurance its like any other job.
And oh! am not saying to give your service away... but, it's people like yourself that ensures people like all of us here, are literate and able to to have normal adult lives.

Answer 7

In Dallas you make more teaching Elementary, but not a big difference. In the other hand in High School is less work because you teach only 1 content area.

Answer 8

Where I live, it's the same for both groups. Your salary depends on the number of years you spent completing post-secondary education, and the number of years full-time, post-degree teaching experience you have. For starting teachers (like me) with four-year Bachelor's degrees in their specialization followed by two-year Bachelor of Education degrees, they begin at $51,000 annually.

Answer 9

In Florida, pay is determined by the county. In my county, there is no distinction from one grade to the next. Instead, you are paid more for years experience and level of degree.

Answer 10

High school teachers get paid more, benefits, and shot at. Do you have weapons training?
I thought folks who signed up for the war were a different brand of silly.