Science teacher's $6k raise request is denied, so they accept a new job with a 40% pay increase; admin backpedals with too little, too late: ‘I will not be changing my mind’

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 19, 2025 9:00 AM EST

Paying an existing employee $6k more per month is absolutely unheard of for admin. But spending the same amount to hire a new, more expensive candidate for the position (not to mention going through the tedium of the hiring process, training new employees, and figuring out their unknown dynamic), now that's something admin folks think is the simpler option. 

Anyone who's spent longer than 10 seconds in the workforce knows that hiring a new employee is going to cost much more than keeping a tenured staff member, especially when they're an underpaid, overqualified science teacher making $28,000 a year…

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  • Science teacher holding her books in front of the blackboard.
    via Karola G

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Teachers are so underappreciated. Although they mold the minds of future generations and spend a lifetime dedicated to their craft, they're often the first ones on the salary chopping block when it comes to city budgets. Although I understand that it's important to maintain a healthy bottom line on government budgets, but should not be at the expense of teachers. 

  • Unsurprisingly, this made this overqualified teacher push back a little bit, and the fallout for the admin was rightfully deserved. She wasn't asking for much, but they were asking her to take the heat financially to continue pursuing her passion. Sorry, but no, any worker would take the 40% raise over company loyalty to a school that clearly doesn't care for your tenure. 

  • After I resigned, HR is suddenly very concerned about the cost of my departure. I've been trying for a long time to get my salary raised to the normal rate for my field. I'm a qualified chemistry and biology teacher, but
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  • a strange twist of fate had me working as a science teacher at a specialist music college. Honestly, the job itself was great, but my salary was stuck at 28k, while the standard for my qualifications in any public school is 39k.
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  • And I'm not even full-time, so all they needed was about a 6k raise per year to make things right. They flat-out refused. So I handed in my resignation.
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  • Two days later, I got an email from HR asking if I would 'reconsider my decision'. The email was all fluff about how my departure would cause them a huge financial loss, and that they would have to hire recruiters, re-apply for certain grants, and so on and so forth.
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  • The kicker is that I had already signed on for a new job starting next term - a full-time position with a salary 40% higher than the normal minimum. So obviously, I wasn't going back on my word.
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  • Portrait of a young female teacher smiling in front of the class.
    via Karola G

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I couldn't help myself, so I replied: 'You told me you couldn't afford to pay me the standard teacher's salary. This is the direct result of that choice. And I will not be changing my mind.'
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  • I'll miss my colleagues and the students like crazy, but frankly, the administration and the HR department can go pound sand.
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  • Edit: Amazing how they suddenly have money to replace you but couldn't find 5k to keep you. Good for you.
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  • They're not 'saving' anything; they're pocketing it. They hold up those 'savings' as a sign of their supposed good management and then give it to themselves.
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  • And no one should ever agree to continue in a job that does not value them financially at all.
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  • best_coyotes 19 They alwaysssss seem to find money once you actually leave
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  • thilehoffer Good for you. That's great.
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  • TheGypsy Thread They'll likely need to pay a higher wage to replace you, plus costs associated with searching for a candidate - good play on your part
    via TheGypsy Thread
  • NeartAgusOnoir I'd have replied with: "no" Nothing else. If they say anything else to you, tell them it's obvious they don't care about people so why should you care about helping them.
    via NeartAgusOnoir
  • Curious_Morris Hilarious that they thought they could convince you to make their problem your problem.
    via Curious_Morris
  • Embarrassed_wait_775 Never take a counter offer -. Leave on Good terms if you wish to return ...
    via Embarrassed_wait_775
  • insertmadeupnamehere It's insanity that you are a degreed professional who was making $13.46 per hour!!!!
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  • No_Arugula4195 They tried to low ball you. Now they want you to consider their monetary welfare. I can think of a few things I would say to them.
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  • mikasax Amen!
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  • AC-Vb3 As general rule, never take a current employer's counter offer. Given the petty nature of corporate structures, you'll be regarded as disloyal and your name goes to the top of a list when it comes to future RIF's or "restructuring." It's all about the terms of exiting you. They prefer it be on their terms, not yours.
    via AC-Vb3

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