Only a fraction of teachers earn “comfortable” salaries compared to the majority who are working second jobs to make ends meet.
Sixty-two percent of K12 teachers hold a second teaching-related job, such as coaching or tutoring, a new report suggests. The findings suggest that most teachers are just getting by with their current salaries (52%), while only 28% of K12 teachers say they’re living comfortably on their income.
Among those taking up a second job, 55% work during the school year and summer and winter breaks, compared to 15% who only seek additional work during their holiday breaks.
Financial strains lead to higher rates of burnout
Teachers experiencing income-related pressures are more likely to report feeling burned out, regardless of whether they’re working a second job.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, financial pressures influence teachers’ career planning. Less than half (49%) of teachers who find it difficult to live on their current income plan on teaching for the rest of their careers, compared to 63% who are living comfortably.
The researchers recommend that district leaders create career pathways “that lead to income growth while allowing them to stay in classroom teaching roles,” the report reads.
How leaders are improving teacher salaries
South Carolina’s Horry County Schools is trying to stay competitive with neighboring school districts by proposing raises for all district employees, according to . Leaders are considering either a 3% cost-of-living adjustment or a flat $2,000 increase across the board.
Like other districts, Horry County is at risk of losing its teachers to higher-paying jobs.
“Of course, we can’t do anything that we do without our teachers and support staff, so we want to make sure we remain competitive, that we’re on market for salaries,” Lisa Bourcier, director of communications for Horry County Schools, told WMBF News.
The district must vote on its budget proposal by June 30.
In Mississippi, lawmakers are voting yes on House Bill 1126, which would increase teacher salaries by $5,000, raising the minimum annual salary to $46,500,油油reports. It would also give special education teachers an additional $3,000 per year.
The bill comes after a 2022 statewide pay bump for teachers, which did little to combat inflation and rising health insurance premiums, according to the news outlet. The latest increase would put Mississippi’s starting teacher salary at the national average, according to the .
More from 91心頭: How techs impact is spreading beyond the classroom
