Studies prove that a great teacher can impart a year and a half’s worth of learning to a student in one year. source
46 percent of teachers in public schools leave the profession within five years. source
Teachers make 14 percent less than people in other professions that require similar levels of education. source
In the next 10 years, more than 1.8 million of the 3.2 million teachers will become eligible for retirement. source
14 percent of teachers leave the profession each year; in urban districts, the turnover is higher: 20 percent. source
High turnover of American teachers costs our country over $7 billion every year. source
Teachers are priced out of home ownership in 32 metropolitan areas. source
Only 4.7 percent of college juniors would consider teaching at the current starting salary. 68 percent of college students said they would consider the teaching profession if it paid 50 percent more than the current occupations they were considering. source
The average starting salary for teachers in our country is $39,000; the average ending salary—after 25 years in the profession—is $67,000. source
In 1970 in New York City, a starting lawyer going into a prestigious firm and a starting teacher going into public education had a differential in their entry salary of about $2,000. Today, including salary and bonus, that starting lawyer makes $160,000, while starting teachers in New York make roughly $45,000. source
Teachers work an average of ten hours per day. source
92.4 percent of teachers spent their own money on their students or classrooms during the 2007-2008 school year. source
62 percent of teachers have second jobs outside of the classroom. source
61 percent of adults think teachers are underpaid given their level of training and importance to society. source
77 percent of U.S. adults feel teaching is among the most under-appreciated professions in the U.S. source
76 percent agree that many of the smartest people in society don’t go into teaching because being a teacher doesn’t pay enough. source
Good teaching over a sustained period can [help students] overcome the disadvantages of poverty. source
