Starting teacher pay in Seattle rises to $42,000
Friday, October 3, 2008 8:05 AM PDT
By The Associated Press
Printable version
E-mail this articleSEATTLE — With supplemental pay from levies on top of their base pay provided by the state, first-year teachers in Seattle this year will earn $42,000.
The teachers’ union says experienced teachers with a master’s degree will earn nearly $80,000.
The Seattle Times reports teachers in the city received a raise of nearly 10 percent this year as part of a five-year effort to make salaries more competitive with surrounding districts.
Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson says the increases are pushing up costs faster than income.
The school board used reserves this year to balance its $556 million budget. The board was told at Wednesday’s meeting that it will have a $25 million gap next year.
banana hammock wrote on Oct 3, 2008 8:53 AM:
" 7 Months a yr
20 days a month
6 hrs a day
$42,000.00 / 840 hrs = $50.00 per hour
Damn good money
plus the ability to draw a full retirement when you 55 priceless "
20 days a month
6 hrs a day
$42,000.00 / 840 hrs = $50.00 per hour
Damn good money
plus the ability to draw a full retirement when you 55 priceless "
Tortoise wrote on Oct 3, 2008 9:26 AM:
" banana hammock: not even close. First of all it's more like 8 months a year. Second of all it's more like 8 to 9 hours a day. I don't know where you get six hours from. Even kids spend more than six hours a day in school. By my calculations it comes out to more like $32 per hour. Yes, decent money, but they're educating your children. How much do you value your child's education? Not very much apparently. "
Jack Squat wrote on Oct 3, 2008 9:42 AM:
" First of all, I am not a teacher or a school employee. You are using fuzzy math Banana Hammock. Where do you get $50 an hour? Teachers work 182 days a year. If they work just 8 hours a day, then the pay works out to $28 an hour based on $42k a year. On top of that, every teacher I know works 10 hour days and does prep work at home on weekends. They take their work home with them...which many blue-collar workers do not have to do. Again, based on $42k I bet the typical teacher makes closer to $20 an hour, which is a joke...way too low. And full retirement? That insinuates they get the same wage as a retiree as they do while working. That is untrue. After 30 years, if they are 60, they get 60% of the final wage. That is a GOOD retirement...but not a FULL retirement. And they pay into that retirement plan...it is not a gift from the state. "
jinxy wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:16 AM:
" Thank you Jack squat, I am a teacher and have been teaching for 4 years and make $36,000 a year. That will go up after I get my masters at my expense. And still I have to keep going to school at my expense. Most teachers put in far more that 8 hrs a day. "
UW Squirrels wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:26 AM:
" It's obvious that Banana Hammock's school should've spent a little more when they hired a math teacher. 7 months a year? Nope. 20 days a month? Nope. 6 hours a day? Nope. $50/hour? Nope. I'd say it's more like $24/hour. "
Crystal wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:28 AM:
" Teachers officially work for 182 days a year, at least 7-8 hours a day. This does not include homework. Yes, teachers have homework. They have to create lesson plans (which take forever), correct work for over 150 students, continuing their education (which is required and is out of their own pocket), etc. There's a reason why over 50% of teachers quit within the first 5 years...dealing with long hours and kids/parents not giving them any respect. "
rastor wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:46 AM:
" If you think that is bad, you should see what the custodians get paid to clean up everyone' mess, including that of "sick" children.....If you think that is good you should know that the State doesn't even pay the school for their computers or computer technicians even though you have to have those systems every single day, even beyond the school day. "
skeezix wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:56 AM:
" Let's all just take great comfort knowing that Banana Hammock is not a teacher. Jinxy, in all fairness, I'm just finishing my Masters. It will not result in a higher wage when I do. It will however, open up opportunities to advance within my organization. And, for the most part, it has been at my expense. The yearly maximum tuition reimbursement from my employer covers about half a term per year. I appreciate that help but have largely undertaken this endeavor on my own. A masters at one's own expense isn't that uncommon..... Best of luck to you when you do obtain that. "
Viewpoint wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:59 AM:
" Supplemental pay for teachers if used to increase salaries for work already mandated by law is questionably illegal. Will the teachers be working longer days or more hours? Why is the media not reporting on this or asking the penetrating questions? Allowing districts to use levy funds for this practice increases the gap in resources between rich districts and poor districts and on top of this some districts have the gall to ask for the levy cap to be raised. This is exacerbating the inequities between the social classes, the rich kids and the poor kids, and yet we still wonder how to address the educational achievement gap. It will also make it harder for the legislature to solve the funding issues for basic education. The WEA and Seattle School District should be ashamed of themselves. "
some random chick wrote on Oct 3, 2008 12:04 PM:
" Teachers are on a 182 day contract. That figures to about $28.80 per hour. Not bad money, but certainly not $50 per hour. Also, teachers spend much more than 8 hours a day at school, and preparing assignments/lessons. Worthy money spent as far as I'm concerned!! "
imlovinit wrote on Oct 4, 2008 9:32 AM:
" It's time we put things in perspective and pay teachers for what they do--baby sit! We can get that for less than minimum wage. That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked, not any of that silly planning time.
That would be $19.50 a day (8:00 AM to 3:30 (or so) PM with just 25 min. off for lunch). Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. NOW...
How many do they teach in a class, 30? So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! we're not going
to pay them for any vacations. LET'S SEE....
That's $585 x 180= $105,300 per year. (forgive me for reprinting part of an email-above) In all seriousness, teacher salaries are about the same whether they work in Cougar or Mukilteo. There has to be some extra compensation for those who work in high cost of living areas, or they simply won't have any teachers there. Like anyone else, they will work where they can afford to live. "
That would be $19.50 a day (8:00 AM to 3:30 (or so) PM with just 25 min. off for lunch). Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. NOW...
How many do they teach in a class, 30? So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! we're not going
to pay them for any vacations. LET'S SEE....
That's $585 x 180= $105,300 per year. (forgive me for reprinting part of an email-above) In all seriousness, teacher salaries are about the same whether they work in Cougar or Mukilteo. There has to be some extra compensation for those who work in high cost of living areas, or they simply won't have any teachers there. Like anyone else, they will work where they can afford to live. "
AnotherLameOpinion wrote on Oct 4, 2008 9:46 AM:
" If you consider the education requirement to become a teacher, it really is low pay. For the investment of time, one could just about become a doctor or a lawyer. My sister had to obtain her masters at an investment of roughly eight years(and a ton of student loans), for the amount of education required, they really should have the ability to make more. "
Cheney119 wrote on Oct 4, 2008 5:02 PM:
" You don't really expect people that didn't value their own education, the little they have, to value those that provide the education to others? Come on. Little people like them feel small and confussed by most everything. Do not pay any attention to them, their opinion is unimportant. "
herenkelso wrote on Oct 4, 2008 6:36 PM:
" I am a foster parent. For each child I make up to 69 cents an hour without lunches and holidays off. I have to take trainings and classes all year. I educate your children, sometimes needing some pretty serious help. I just love it when people tell me I'm in it for the money. :) How many teachers do you think would do their job for 69 cents an hour 24/7? "
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