Hello? Me again. I started this post because I was frustrated that my neighbor was complaining to me about returning to her job after a ten week vacation (trust me, she didn't work during her 10 week hiatus, she vacationed) and there I stood happy that school was starting so my kids finally would be back in school after spending the summer watching TV/video games because I had to work the entire summer because staffing (maternity leave, elective gallbladder surgery leave, etc) would not allow me to have more than a day or two off here or there. (We did get to go camping for four days in June, Yippee!) I really didn't want this to turn into a we vs. they post. . .BUT
In Indiana, the median elementary school teacher's salary is $41,000 (according to salary.com) for 180 working days. (Notice I didn't say 180 "8-hour" working days.) $41,000 divided by 180 equals $227.77/day. I made, including overtime, $40,000 last year. If I divide that by 180 working days, it equals $222.22/day. Not that much difference per day between myself and a teacher, except I didn't work just 180 days. I got my 3% annual cost of living raise last week (I have NEVER received a sign-on bonus, any kind of bonus for that matter, nor a merit raise in 6 years of employment as an RN) so I now make $19.25/hr which works out to $154.00/day if I work 8 hrs or $40,040/yr (no overtime included). By comparison, if teachers worked all year like the rest of us at their current average daily salary of $227.77, the average yearly salary of a teacher in the great state of Indiana would be $59,220.
My sister and my sister-in-law teach 4th grade, my mother-in-law teaches 5th grade, and my brother-in-law teaches high school science. Trust me, I know what teachers go through during the school year; it can be as stressful as nursing, just a different kind of stress. However, I have never known my sister to miss her son's game because she had papers to grade or prep to do, but I have missed several of my kids' games or programs (especially Xmas programs) because of my nursing.
No, neither of us make near enough the money we should. Yes, I have more options and job opportunities as a nurse, but not at better pay (in my area of the world, anyway.) I guess I just don't want to hear -- and I direct this to my neighbor, whom I love dearly -- complaining about ten weeks not being long enough "to recover" from the previous school year when you are standing there tanned, and your kids are tanned, and your house is clean, and I am pale from no sun exposure and the only tan my kids have is from mowing your lawn while you were gone for two weeks seeing the Grand Canyon!
Hey, this has been fun and informative, and I honestly hope I have not offended anyone. Everybody have a GREAT school year!
Your pal,
Sherri
Peace!
Hey nurse s
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