It depends on the subject matter. I switched from

Posted on: January 6, 2025 at 09:49:19 CT

Engineering to physics in order to teach. There is very little difference in the degrees. I am in my 35th year of teaching and am making about $15k less than what a starting engineer would make. I'm not complaining, it is a choice I made fully aware of the implications.

The wife, also a teacher, and I make a mediocre middle class living. I do not have an advanced degree but have almost 60 graduate hours, the wife has two masters degrees, neither in education. People who claim that teachers have easy degrees are generalizing, many do, most get advanced degrees in education that are completely meaningless but that is because educators are required to keep taking classes simply to retain the job they were hired to do.

You must weigh the pros and cons before deciding to be a teacher. My opinions below.

Pros: Good work life balance. Good pension plan. Time off with family. Decent benefits. Enjoy my job. Most of the time you are left alone to do your job. Opportunity to coach some sports I love.

Cons: Poor pay compared to what my degree could make. No chance for advancement if you want to stay in the classroom. Very lowly regarded profession (admittedly some of that is due to actions of others in the profession). Locked into middle class to lower middle class lifestyle. Lavish vacations are out of the picture, we go on regional vacations. Have to put with irrational parents and admin who are trying to appease those parents.