Whether or not you feel teachers deserve the pay they get or not, it is just a lot more expensive today to make ends meet. If a couple makes a combined income of around $130K a yr. they probably have enough to more than make ends meet. If they have two or more children, two cars and a pet, that will certainly change the equation. They won’t have a lot left over for extras but likely won’t be going behind. Most couples don’t start out making that much money. It’s usually later in their careers that they might and if they send their children to college that can be a huge chunk of change (ask me how I know). I tell people, I could have had three nice houses. Instead, I have three nice kids (and lots of grandkids). I wouldn’t change a thing but we pinched pennies always to make ends meet. Now more than ever in retirement. Where you live is also a big factor in how far your money goes.
What is BS is the youngsters with 4 years or less experience thinking they need $100K salary.
Surely, you jest. Can’t make it on less than $130k or $80k??? Knock off +2/3rd of that lower, subtract 1/4th of that for property taxes and then we might talk about making ends meet with kids in college, pets and cars.