Teacher Salary Surveys

Teacher salaries vary widely depending on geographic area, level of education and seniority. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary of kindergarten, elementary, middle and secondary school teachers was $49,000 in 2006; the top 10 percent earned $73,350.

The American Federation of Teachers found that beginning teachers with a bachelor's degree earned an average of $31,753 for the 2004–2005 school year. Depending on where they teach, many teachers earn $70,000 or more toward the end of their tenure. And remember, you can increase your salary by tutoring or performing after-school activities.

Most school districts increase teacher salaries according to the number of approved continuing education credits they've accumulated and the number of years they've been teaching. Teachers with master's degrees or national certification often have higher salaries. Private school teachers generally earn less than public school teachers but have other benefits like smaller class size. Some teachers earn extra income teaching summer school, tutoring or performing other jobs in the school system.

But remember, salary aside, many teachers wouldn't think of doing anything else. Getting off of work in time to miss rush hour traffic and having the summers off are benefits some couldn't live without.

If you want to know why people become teachers, check out our list of Teacher Perks.

To learn more about how to increase teacher salaries, see our Teacher Salary Secrets.