Look at any university campus across the country. Teaching degrees are among the most popular, whether in elementary or secondary education, special education, or specific subjects like math or English. While rarely an undermanned occupation, trends vary from balanced (an even ratio of employment positions available to qualified applicants) to overmanned, all too frequently tending towards the latter. State budget reductions and reduced contributions to private schools tip the scales even further.
Many Teaching Positions Coming Open
Despite all this, there is hope for the thousands of college students currently majoring in some form of education. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Most [teaching] job openings will result from the need to replace the large number of teachers who are expected to retire over the 2008–18 period.” Continual overmanning in past years has brought a large portion of educators to retirement at one time, leaving extensive potential openings for newcomers. The BLS also states that many new teachers, especially those in poorer, urban areas, leave the profession for better employment, creating yet more openings.
Traditionally, there are divisions within the education profession that offer somewhat better paychecks than others. For example, elementary school teachers – (grades 1-8) have an annual median (average) salary of $49,370, while a high school teacher earns slightly more at $51,250. For Special Education teachers, the median salary is a few hundred dollars more annually. These rates are average for the entire nation, taking in figures for urban, rural, affluent and distressed areas, so individual situations may be very different.
Average Growth for Teaching Jobs
Typically, “harder” classes – math and science – offer higher pay than “softer” classes – English, history, etc, but no significant difference in vacancies. According to DegreeFinders.com, both History and Math teaching occupations expect 12% growth from 2006 to 2016. Special Education teachers should look for higher growth, about 15%. Other websites offer somewhat different statistics, so these figures should be taken as only part of a larger picture.
Some areas of the country will not experience the increase in employment opportunities that more economically stable areas will. For example, Detroit and surrounding communities were devastated by the automobile industry problems. News reports show that their $306million deficit is forcing the closure of 23 schools at the end of the 2009/2010 school year.
Locations with High Growth Expected
On the other hand, school districts in Clark County, Nevada; Beaverton, Oregon; and Frisco, Texas are on one list of top growing schools. Another website called The Apple lists counties in Louisiana, Arizona, Illinois, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia for their fastest growing school districts.
Teaching has never been a route to riches. But in a troubled economic environment, it still seems to be a steady career opportunity for those drawn to the classroom.
Work Cited:
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010 – 2011 Edition. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 12/17/2009.
"How to Become a Math Teacher." DegreeFinders. 2009.
"10 Fastest Growing School Districts." The Apple. 2009.
Elizabeth Linehan - Elizabeth studied American Sign Language at Brigham Young University. She has worked with hearing impaired and multipli-handicapped ...
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