Been there...done that...by all accounts, was a "natural" at it. Nonetheless, I decided to go into a different profession after college instead of teaching.
That was 20 years ago. I work 20 hours a week, run a regional business, enjoy plenty of time with my kids, don't live under the perpetual threat of a lawsuit, and don't have to worry about violence on the job. Make $37 an hour without all the hassles teachers face every single day.
So, yes, $70K is a fair salary in certain parts of the country after 20 years in a profession.
As to the pension, depends on which state you work for, how long, how much you put into the system, etc. Pension? A teacher I know make $400 a month in pension after 25 years in the field. Her medical costs $365 a month. What can you eat on $35 a month? Noodles.
I guess the point to all this is a the grass might look greener, but for the most part, it's not.
Yes and got paid a fair share less than 70K to do it, then again it was not on the public dollar and I had no teachers union threatening to shut down schools if their cosmetic surgery option was taken away in the new contract.
It takes years to build up to that salary, lots of 65 to 70 hour weeks.
Ill grant you the first couple of weeks but lesson plans do not change that much from year to year and teachers are given at least 1.5 hours a day for lesson planning and grading (one is usually study hall of some sort and the other is open time). I knew teachers, good teachers mind you, who got to school five minutes before class and left five minutes after. they had been doing it for a few years and had everything except exams and homework ready for the whole year.
don't live under the perpetual threat of a lawsuit
Teachers have ample legal protection and are at no more risk of lawsuit than say doctors, police, firefighters, or engineers.
So, yes, $70K is a fair salary in certain parts of the country after 20 years in a profession.
The *average* salary for teachers nation wide is close to 50K that is for 9.5 months of work and most, contrary to popular belief, do not work more than a 40 hour week. thats about 1700 hours a year or close to 30$ an hour.
A teacher I know make $400 a month in pension after 25 years in the field. Her medical costs $365 a month. What can you eat on $35 a month? Noodles.
I have trouble believing that, what state?