New Teachers: Here Are Five Ways To Give Yourself a Raise

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average teacher salary in the United States was $66,397 in 2022.  Unless you’re working in the highest-paying states, you’re likely making less than that as a new teacher.  In this article, we’ll share ways you can give yourself a raise and maximize your earning potential within the field of education.

You have more control over your paycheck than you might think.

#1: Give Yourself a Raise With A Stipend for Extracurricular Activities

• Value per year? $1000 (approximately) 
• Total value over 20 years? $20,000

A stipend is a sum of money for doing something outside of the typical job duties – like advising an extracurricular activity.  If you have an interest or area of expertise, leading a team or club can be a great way to earn extra cash and increase your connection to the students and to the school.  It’s a resume booster as well!

I know teachers who consider their “extra” assignment to be the most fun part of the job.  You’ll need to confirm with your school or your contract, but stipends are typically offered for coaching a sport and for some clubs like Mock Trial, Model United Nations, or Speech and Debate.

#2: Give Yourself a Raise By Adding Post-Graduate Units

• Estimated value to advance one column? – $1,500 per year 
• What is it worth to “max out” your units?  $6,000 per year
• Approximate total value over 20 years? $120,000

Most public school districts and some private schools utilize a “step and column” system for salary advancement.  Initially created to reward teachers for loyalty to one employer, the system provides incentives for continuing your education.  The more post-graduate units you have, the more money you get.  Every year.

It really pays to get those added units early in your teaching career.  But even if you’re a veteran teacher, it still makes sense.  Check out your teacher’s lounge or ask a veteran teacher where they “got their units”.  

Besides making more money, an added benefit is that you’ll be learning (hopefully) how to be a better teacher.  And being a better teacher makes the job more fun.  One summer, my wife and I took a class on unit design and we came out of it with renewed excitement for the school year.  And, of course, we got units and a raise!

#3: Give Yourself a Raise By Getting An Advanced Degree

• Estimated value per year?  $1,200 
• Total value over 20 years: $24,000

For many of us, the last thing we want to do after college is head right back into a graduate program while simultaneously working full-time as a teacher.  I didn’t get my master’s until year 14 and I wish I had done it sooner.

For salaries, lots of districts build the master’s degree into the salary schedule – like the one above.  Other districts offer a separate stipend for advanced degrees – as you see in the image below.  

Besides salary advancement, there are many benefits to getting an advanced degree.

1. Improve your teaching practice 
2. Advancement opportunities
3. Personal networking
4. Potential to work in higher education
5. Increased ability to change careers (career autonomy!)
6. Personal development and growth

#4: Give Yourself a Raise By Switching to a Higher-Paying District or School

• Value per year? $7,000 (this varies widely)
• Value  over 20 years: $140,000

Option #1: Go from a private school to a public school.

According to a Washington Post article on teacher salaries, teachers in private schools earn an average of 30% less money than their public school counterparts.  That amounts to an average difference of $15,200 per year.

One note: every school is different, but there are often advantages to working in a private school. This article is money-focused. But we do realize there are sometimes other considerations when selecting a place of employment.

Option #2: Leave a lower-paying public school district and move to a higher-paying district.

It’s fairly common knowledge that teacher salaries vary widely from state to state.  But what about from district to district within the same metropolitan area?  If you’re a teacher, we’re guessing you can name at least one nearby district that pays more than yours. But how much more? 

We looked up salaries in several metro areas and found the following:

#5: Long-Term Plan — Give Yourself a Raise By Becoming a School Administrator

• Estimated value per year? $28,000 
• Value over 20 years: $560,000

Nobody will call you into the office to offer you a promotion to assistant principal.  In our line of work, teachers promote themselves.  If you feel ready to jump into a leadership position, becoming an administrator provides one of the biggest salary boosts in education.

Salary.com puts the average salary for Assistant Principal at $94,300 — a raise of roughly $28,000 a year.

That’s life-changing money.

The job comes with a downside: your work year is 25-30 days longer than that of a teacher.  Entry-level admin positions (such as Assistant Principal) carry the burden of handling school-wide discipline — an unpleasant duty that can consume entire days and make you feel like your job is a mix of social worker and detective.

Key Takeaway: Be proactive about your salary.

As a teacher, you have more control than you might think over your yearly salary. The cumulative totals for these four options represent significant money. So often, teachers put off salary advancement because of the short-term time or money commitment. I’ve been guilty of that over the years. Don’t allow the day-to-day grind to cause you to lose sight of your bigger financial goals.

Brad has taught history at the middle and high school levels for 19 years, almost exclusively in American public schools.  He has a master’s in educational technology and is passionate about elevating the status of professional educators.