'Me? $53,000 a year with $70K in student debt': Mom torn between pride and lament when her teacher's salary proves to be <50% of what her teenage son makes as a tradesman

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jul 3, 2024 9:00 AM EDT

Have you ever accidentally called your teacher 'Mom' from across the room? 

Inadvertently, teachers are like a mother to hundreds of kids over the course of their careers. While there are a handful of truly awful teachers (I'm sure one or two come to mind), there's also a myriad of amazing teachers who inspire and enthrall their students, filling their lives with hope, education, and a blueprint for how to tackle the future. So why are they so underpaid? 

Recently, a teacher went viral for her take on wage levels and her value as a teacher when her teenage son got his first job out of high school. Although she was proud of his success–earning $65+ an hour–she lamented over the comparison to her own salary. After 12 years of experience, as well as an expensive Master's degree that resulted in $50k in student debt, the original poster of this story could hardly boast about her teaching salary at $25/hour. Scroll for the whole tale of a woman who was torn between pride and sorrow at a broken education system. 

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  • 01
    "He's paid $63/hour. I have 12 years of experience and... my hourly rate is $25/hour"
    via canva
  • 02
    Posted by u/jbp84 18yo son's wages vs mine: Humor Tagged humor because it's either laugh or cry...
    via jbp84
  • 03
    18 yo son: graduated high school a month ago. Has a job with a local roofing company in their solar panel install divison. For commercial jobs he'a paid $63 an hour, $95 if it's overtime.
    via jbp84
  • 04
    For residential jobs he makes $25/hour. About 70% of their jobs are commercial. He's currently on the apprentice waiting list for the local IBEW hall.
    via jbp84
  • 05
    Me: 40, masters degree, 12 years of teaching experience. $53,000 a year with ~$70K in student debt load. My hour rate is about $25/hour
    via jbp84
  • 06
    This is one of thing many reasons I think of when people talk about why public education is in shambles.
    via jbp84
  • 07
    Employee28064212. 14 hr. ago Job Title Location That's great money, but those jobs come at a great physical toll, as I am sure you well know.
    via Employee28064212
  • 08
    jbp84 OP 14 hr. ago Some trades are harder on the body than others... electrician isn't as physically demanding as carpentry and some other trades. His plan is to start his own company eventually, or as he said "I'm not going to twist wires my whole life"
    via jbp84
  • 09
    Historical-Raccoon46 13 hr. ago Good God. Where do you live? A teacher with 12 years experience and a master's makes much more in New Jersey
    via Historical-Raccoon46
  • 10
    menace313 10 hr. ago New Jersey is one of the highest paying states when it comes to teachers. It's why they have a top three education program.
    via menace313
  • 11
    Yakuza 70 13 hr. ago At least in my community, the immense pressure put on students to go to a prestigious college is heart- breaking. I wish there was more emphasis put on careers in the trades. College is not for everyone.
    via Yakuza 70
  • 12
    Letriono 5 hr. ago And every time the trades get brought up everyone is always saying how it takes a physical toll and they will destroy their bodies.
    via Letriono
  • 13
    I know many older guys who made a career out of the trades and they pretty much all end up growing their business to the point when they're older,
    via Letriono
  • 14
    and I'm talking probably by 40, they are running their business and have guys working for them. So they're basically an office worker anyway, out quoting jobs and supervising.
    via Letriono
  • 15
    Just because someone is "book smart" and a fit for college doesn't mean the trades are a bad choice that won't utilize their skills. It just might be a bit further down the line.
    via Letriono
  • 16
    sdega315 12 hr. ago 31yr retired science teacher/ad... $53K after 12 years teaching is ridiculous. In my district teachers with a BA or BS start at $50K. I am sure cost of living is higher where I am but still...smh
    via sdega315
  • 17
    Wafflinson 12 hr. ago Secondary SS+ELA | Idaho Meh, I like that manual labor jobs that require some skill/training have increased in wages so much. Not all well paying jobs need to be locked behind a degree.
    via Wafflinson
  • 18
    Even for $95 an hour you could not get me on a roof in the middle of summer/winter where I live. (Not saying teachers shouldn't be paid more.)
    via Even 95
  • 19
    Paramalia 13 hr. ago Good for your son! And he's got his life ahead of him. My 18 year old makes $12 an hour.
    via Paramalia
  • 20
    LookHowOrange · 14 hr. ago Administrator | Florida, USA The trade-off with those kinds of jobs is that they destroy you physically and you're basically cooked by the time you're 35, unless you can rub enough elbows to get a management position.
    via LookHowOrange
  • 21
    Few-Boysenberry-7826 12 hr. ago I've done both residential electrical and I've been a teacher. I'll take teaching any day.
    via Few-Boysenberry-7826
  • 22
    solomons-mom · 14 hr. ago We see posts from teachers saying that they cannot make ends meet on the roughly 1500 hours teachers are contracted for per year. Roofing may be the answer!
    via solomons-mom
  • 23
    Even 400 hours of roofing at $25/hour would be almost $10k and still be fewer hours than the annual full-time equivalent of 2000 hours/year. If a teacher gets hired for the commercial jobs, it would be $25,000 for the summer, and have the potential for overtime.
    via solomons-mom
  • 24
    The son of a friend is licenced for HVAC, but is working on roofing right now, and putting in a lot of overtime. He is also learning about investing.
    via solomons-mom
  • 25
    philosophyofblonde 12 hr. ago What needs to happen is to encourage kids/students/people in general to stop putting all their eggs in one basket. By all means, do solar roof panel installs. But also think about
    via philosophyofblonde
  • 26
    certifications you can get easily from that. Think about where work counts for college credit. Learn some other skills. Get involved in community projects. Invest in things. The odds that a person is going to make a
    via philosophyofblonde
  • 27
    straight shot into a career and stay there indefinitely are so low you practically need a microscope. Maybe one day you'll off, your sector reaches obsolescence, the pay
    via philosophyofblonde
  • 28
    goes down, you get an injury, or you need to change things for your mental health. The list goes on. The best thing to have is options.
    via philosophyofblonde
  • 29
    2020Hills 7 hr. ago Trade and blue collar is always going to be profit
    via 2020Hills

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