J1016

It's amazing for me to hear about teachers making so little in other states...39,000 is a starting salary here in SE Michigan right out of college. I agree, we all did not go into teaching or nursing for the money.(unless you're a crna...hey, I have the right to say that jokingly since my mom has been one for 33 years! Clearly she didn't go into it for they money..she started at $9 an hour!) There are a lot of similarities between the two professions, especially when you look at the qualities of these amazing individuals. It may seem like teachers get a lot of money at 65K for the 10 months of the year they teach, but keep in mind that there is take home work. I believe there is less "grading" take home work in elementary school from my experiences, but more time spent planning due to the numerous different subjects being taught. FYI, only terrible teachers teach the same stuff every year. Yes, it's the same content, however each year brings a new bunch of students that you need to develop new lesson plans, activities, etc. for. You can't "catch" kids attention using webkinz in math anymore when they are "so last year". Enjoy your day everyone.

I don't think you see too much disrespect from a six-year old, or most elementary school kids. Consider the age groups. I am a third grade teacher right now in Michigan making 55K a year while finishing up my masters. I will be making 65K the next school year, and then once I hit tenure in two years I'll be at 70K. My aunt is 50 years old and makes 90K a year as a teacher in Michigan WITHOUT her masters. (It wasn't the thing at the time to get a masters...you went for certificates) You probably wonder why I'm on here, but my dad is an Anesthesiologist, and my mom a CRNA, so I made this profile and come on here sometimes with my mom. One would think I would have chose a higher paying career because of my parents in the medical field, but there is nothing wrong with me making 70K at 27 years old. Fine with me...I plan on becoming a Principal in a few years and fyi the starting salary for an el. ed. principal in my areas is 90K-120K. My high school principal, whom I still am in contact with, makes 130K a year and he is 40 years old. Yes, teachers take things home, but it gets easier each year. There is not insane grading and projects to do when you teacher 8 year olds! I spend about three hours a week MAX at home doing work. Just putting that out there because some of the teacher salaries seem to be a lot lower than what is in my area.

You have absolutley no right to say that teacher's don't work as hard as nurses...and for your information there are teachers who are the MOST IMPORTANT person in students' lives. Students who have a family that doesn't care about them...these students are lucky enought to come to school and have a teacher that gives them a hug, smiles at them, laughs with them, gives them snacks, and a teacher that thinks about them outside of school. I know teachers who have saved childrens lives because of family abuse, or teachers who saved students from committing suicide. You can have a growing relationship with a teacher for many years while you are in school. These are two different careers...nurses are supposed to save lives and they do a damned good job at it. Teachers are supposed to teach, not "save" lives in the same sense that teachers do. Many teachers do much more than teach, and many nurses do much more than "Just save lives". Why am I reading so many negative comments about teachers on here?

I too would love to know where you got these two career ideas. It seems that teaching is really your passion, yet you strive for a high-paying career. Teachers make more than 50K with a masters. Think about how much principals make....I'm in Michigan and know a 36 year-old high school principal who makes 140,000 a year....very similar to my mom who is a CRNA. I also know Elementary School principals make around 90k+. I have a family friend who is 30 years-old, with a masters, and makes 75K as a teacher. NOT BAD for having three months off...I think you NEED to realize that there IS money in teaching, with time and further education. I graduated with my Bachelors in Teaching, and caused myself lots of stress debating whether or not I wanted to be a CRNA like my mom. I was afraid a teaching career would not bring me enough money, but I am perfectly content where I am. Everyone says it, and it's true...you MUST choose a career based off of interest and not money. Don't fool yourself into thinking you're interested in something just because you're interested in the money. It seems you ask many questions about how much careers make, but do you ask what the job entails, or what the people enjoy about their career? Good luck, and remember you have plenty of time ahead of you. If you truly love both anesthesia and teaching, then be a crna teacher someday.