[Dianna]

And that teacher and you get paid the SAME? Is that what you are saying? I really find it hard to wrap my mind around that one.

That lazy teacher may be paid more if they have more time in. I have to say the single most frustrating point for me is having little control over what I earn. It doesn't matter how hard I work or how many great ideas I come up with, my pay is determined by time.

Of course, I knew that going into it, and accept it. But it truly does rub me the wrong way.

[No Truce With Kings]

"I have to say the single most frustrating point for me is having little control over what I earn. It doesn't matter how hard I work or how many great ideas I come up with, my pay is determined by time.

Of course, I knew that going into it, and accept it. But it truly does rub me the wrong way."

It does not just rub you the wrong way -- that is what gripes non-teachers about teaching, too. I have worked as an engineer. I have taught in a classroom (as an adjunct -- and yup, even accounting for time spent outside the classroom it totaled up to about $30/hr -- that was back in the 1990s). I have been an IT consultant. I am a freelance writer.

The only job I had where the quality of my work absolutely did not matter to my pay was when I was teaching. Those that just showed up and marked time got paid the same as those that put their hearts into it and knocked themselves out.

I could hack that as an adjunct, but if I had been doing it full-time it would have killed me. I would have either gone postal or become a drone. I am much happier back in engineering, where pay (and holding your job) is merit-based -- and as a freelance writer where you get paid to deliver and paid more if you deliver quality.