What do private school teachers earn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will vary by school, but in general they earn meaningfully less than public school teachers.

+1 I've taught at two of the "big" East Coast privates, and earned significantly less than that of my public school friends. One of these was one of the HADES schools, and people were always shocked at how low teachers' salaries were; I had to correct friends a few times when they voiced their beliefs that "now you make a good salary."

Why do people choose to work at private schools then? My DC is at a private, she's had some very good teachers, so I'm glad they're not all taking off for public, but you'd think the better ones would head to public if it's that much better.

The private school teachers do seem, on the whole, to be on the younger side, as compared to public. And there is quite a bit of turnover among the assistant teachers, but that may be a function of youth as well.

Flexibility in content, smaller classes, shorter hours/school years (usually) you don't have to worry as much about major behavioral issues because they aren't required to accept/keep everyone.

This. I’ve taught both and quality of life in private is better. Way more planning time too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there some tuition discount for the employees at most privates? That has to be a MAJOR plus.....

This is the major draw at my alma mater and the school my younger DD attended. Many of the older, married female teachers quit as soon as their youngest girl graduated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there some tuition discount for the employees at most privates? That has to be a MAJOR plus.....

I work in a single sex private high school. My school gives 25% discount (around 5K) to staff who have been at the school at least 5 years.

So, if you have a kid the right gender, who reaches the right grade at the right time, you get a 20K benefit. 20K over 9 years isn’t a major benefit, and many us don’t get the benefit at all, because we don’t have kids, have kids who are too young or too old, or have kids the wrong gender. At the moment, I can think of 4 staff kids in a school of 50 staff, and one is a junior whose parent will be eligible for discount this year, so she’ll get 1 year of benefit.

Our school is working hard to bring teachers to 80% if comparable public salaries for teachers with less than 10 years. That’s with significantly less retirement benefit. Those of us with more than 10 years are under that 80% figure.

[Anonymous]

I am an HR Director at a DC-area private (not a Big 3). Our lowest paid teacher makes around $50,000 and our highest paid makes about $100,000. We also give tuition remission, have decent medical/dental/vision benefits and donate to our employees' 403(b) plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Not enough, and the benefits are terrible.

I taught for many years at a Big Three private, and when my child was denied financial aid, that was the last straw.

I have much better pay and benefits through MCPS. And I no longer feel like the help!

Wow. That’s terrible. We’re not at a Big 3 or 5, but I know our teachers are valued and many of their kids attend our school. It is all part of Community. Hope you are in a better place now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BFF teaches HS private in the DC area (not at a big 3). She has a Phd in her subject and makes $80k. She gets about 50% tuition assistance for her son.

She laments about benefits but likes the ability to teach in a more collegiate manner than having to teach to specific standards.

Exactly. Private school teachers can TEACH without the bureaucracy, testing requirements, and behavior problems that often plague public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BFF teaches HS private in the DC area (not at a big 3). She has a Phd in her subject and makes $80k. She gets about 50% tuition assistance for her son.

She laments about benefits but likes the ability to teach in a more collegiate manner than having to teach to specific standards.

Exactly. Private school teachers can TEACH without the bureaucracy, testing requirements, and behavior problems that often plague public schools.

Yeah. But now, at 39, I'm starting to regret the romantic idealism that shaped my early choices in schools. I've had great students and worked in lovely settings, but I am starting to worry about what my future will look like. I'll have good memories of my students and my job, but that isn't much to live on when I'm old.

I know that my students' wealthy parents realize how little I earn, but they value my dedication to their children and my job . However, I've been teaching long enough to have heard multiple high school students (and parents) speak disparagingly about my profession; I know the same parents who pay tuition so their children can be in the classrooms of poor, "dedicated" teachers who love teaching would never, ever encourage their children to become teachers. I didn't realize this when I was younger.

I know, I know. This might mean it is time to reconsider my professional trajectory and choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will vary by school, but in general they earn meaningfully less than public school teachers.

+1 I've taught at two of the "big" East Coast privates, and earned significantly less than that of my public school friends. One of these was one of the HADES schools, and people were always shocked at how low teachers' salaries were; I had to correct friends a few times when they voiced their beliefs that "now you make a good salary."

Why do people choose to work at private schools then? My DC is at a private, she's had some very good teachers, so I'm glad they're not all taking off for public, but you'd think the better ones would head to public if it's that much better.

The private school teachers do seem, on the whole, to be on the younger side, as compared to public. And there is quite a bit of turnover among the assistant teachers, but that may be a function of youth as well.

At our private elementary school, the teachers have husbands who are the main income earners.
No one is in for the money, lol. Some just love children and enjoy teaching.
Almost every teacher who had young children left for public school so they can earn a higher salary.
Most of our teachers are older, more established and don't rely so much on their teachers salary.
One teacher does it to pay for her children's college.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend, mid 40s, who went from public to private, Va. suburbs, and the private met her salary requirements which were match my public school salary, which was at that time about $85K, plus great benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will vary by school, but in general they earn meaningfully less than public school teachers.

+1 I've taught at two of the "big" East Coast privates, and earned significantly less than that of my public school friends. One of these was one of the HADES schools, and people were always shocked at how low teachers' salaries were; I had to correct friends a few times when they voiced their beliefs that "now you make a good salary."

Why do people choose to work at private schools then? My DC is at a private, she's had some very good teachers, so I'm glad they're not all taking off for public, but you'd think the better ones would head to public if it's that much better.

The private school teachers do seem, on the whole, to be on the younger side, as compared to public. And there is quite a bit of turnover among the assistant teachers, but that may be a function of youth as well.

At our private elementary school, the teachers have husbands who are the main income earners.
No one is in for the money, lol. Some just love children and enjoy teaching.
Almost every teacher who had young children left for public school so they can earn a higher salary.
Most of our teachers are older, more established and don't rely so much on their teachers salary.
One teacher does it to pay for her children's college.

This is even true to some extent in the public schools. Even a mid-career teacher salary can be difficult to live on in this area if you have children or student loan debt. I’m able to work in the schools because my partner makes significantly more. I would consider private school again if one was close and had the same schedule as my son’s. Now I live and work in the same district with little commute which is worth quite a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend, mid 40s, who went from public to private, Va. suburbs, and the private met her salary requirements which were match my public school salary, which was at that time about $85K, plus great benefits.

I am in that age range and make 80K. Benefits are really good, I think. Big name school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there some tuition discount for the employees at most privates? That has to be a MAJOR plus.....

Big Three PP here. Nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will vary by school, but in general they earn meaningfully less than public school teachers.

+1 I've taught at two of the "big" East Coast privates, and earned significantly less than that of my public school friends. One of these was one of the HADES schools, and people were always shocked at how low teachers' salaries were; I had to correct friends a few times when they voiced their beliefs that "now you make a good salary."

Why do people choose to work at private schools then? My DC is at a private, she's had some very good teachers, so I'm glad they're not all taking off for public, but you'd think the better ones would head to public if it's that much better.

The private school teachers do seem, on the whole, to be on the younger side, as compared to public. And there is quite a bit of turnover among the assistant teachers, but that may be a function of youth as well.

The positions tend to be occupied by people with high-earning spouses (husbands mostly).

[Anonymous]

It is crazy how much these vary
$40k to $85k is a huge range.

I have a PhD and one of the reasons some of my friends teach in private schools is that they don't require teacher certification. The ones,who've gone public have had to do formal certification or second career training peograms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will vary by school, but in general they earn meaningfully less than public school teachers.

+1 I've taught at two of the "big" East Coast privates, and earned significantly less than that of my public school friends. One of these was one of the HADES schools, and people were always shocked at how low teachers' salaries were; I had to correct friends a few times when they voiced their beliefs that "now you make a good salary."

Why do people choose to work at private schools then? My DC is at a private, she's had some very good teachers, so I'm glad they're not all taking off for public, but you'd think the better ones would head to public if it's that much better.

The private school teachers do seem, on the whole, to be on the younger side, as compared to public. And there is quite a bit of turnover among the assistant teachers, but that may be a function of youth as well.

Flexibility in content, smaller classes, shorter hours/school years (usually) you don't have to worry as much about major behavioral issues because they aren't required to accept/keep everyone.

This. I’ve taught both and quality of life in private is better. Way more planning time too.

Nice work if you can get it, while someone else is bringing in most of the HHI, retirement, and healthcare benefits.