It’s no longer news that educators have been historically undervalued, even when one fails to consider the additional workload outside of the classroom, such as grading and writing lesson plans. Nevertheless, many individuals fail to understand just how bad the teacher pay gap has been growing recently- compared to other professions that require a Bachelor’s degree, educators across the country earn, on average, 18.7% less. Even compensating for the fact that educators generally are offered better healthcare and vacation benefits, this wage gap still drifts around 11.42%.

Have educators always had less payment?

While the standard weekly wages of other colleagues have risen steadily over the past 20 years, the standard American teacher weekly wages have fallen when modified for inflation. The 18.7% standard American wage gap is simply an average, and the data is more revealing when each state is looked into. Wyoming, for instance, reimburses its educators well compared to similar professions, with educators in Wyoming earning only 3% less than their colleagues. However, in states like Colorado and Arizona, the wage gap has climbed to 36%, while in Michigan, for instance, the average start-off salary of educators is around $36,000 per year. These figures are significantly lower than almost every other profession which requires a Bachelor’s degree.

Public school educators across America earned a minimum of $1,137 per week in 2017, while other full-time workers with college degrees earned $1,476. Over decades, the average American teacher payment has increased by 15.2%, but teachers’ salaries have dropped by 3% when the increase is accounted for. Teaching is a stressful job. Suppose you add the huge wage gap to that. Is it surprising that at least 30 of the 50 states in America have reported significant teacher shortages?

Do educators work less than other professionals?

While affirming that these wage gaps are high, many still believe educators earn lower because less work is demanded. For instance, critics may point out that educators have the holidays off work, which means they should be paid less because they spend little time working. Regardless, just because educators aren’t in their regular classrooms during holidays doesn’t mean preceptors aren’t working. Many educators opt to teach summer school or take on an alternate job to use their “time off” to gain financial stability. Many educators also use summertime to study for and take certification exams for more subjects and grade levels or modernize expiring certifications. Educators may also plan for the forthcoming school year, including spending a minimum of $500 per school year on supplies out of their funds. Many educators also earn graduate degrees during the summer to advance their careers. This spare time working during the summer isn’t compensated for. 

Educators must be devoted professionals to stay with their current jobs under similar financial rigors. Still, many devoted educators simply cannot go on to continue with their current careers, given the financial circumstances. They have people to take care of and bills to pay. Can we blame them for wanting their sweats to be recognized?