Forum Index
»
Schools and Education General Discussion
Is it possible to support a family in this area on a teacher's salary?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| We know some teachers who commute into DC and MoCo schools from Columbia, Maryland or Howard County (which has good publics of its own). |
Anonymous
| I know two teachers who commute to MC from Pennsylvania. |
Anonymous
| People live here in Arlington on far less than that. I wouldn't say it is easy or that I would want to do it, but clearly people do it so it can be done. I'm assuming you aren't a new teacher. |
Anonymous
| When/if you bought a house makes a huge difference. Almost 1/3 of our GROSS income goes to pay for a small, old, modest house. |
Anonymous
|
You can live a modest, decent lifestyle almost anywhere in this country on teacher's pay. Emphasis on modest ... but ceratinly not destitute.
Can you live the life of lawyer? No. |
Anonymous
Show me where in Montgomery County you can buy housing for a family with a $45K annual income, and afford the monthly payment (allowing for other essentials). I don't think so. |
Anonymous
MoCo has the Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit program as well as a workforce housing program that help people with exactly those types of income. Does that mean everyone's going to find housing? No, but if you are working for the County, you have a good shot. |
Anonymous
| And those programs have waiting lists MILES long. |
Anonymous
Who said anything about purchasing a home? My sister rents, teaches in MoCo and earns about $62K a year. She rents. |
Anonymous
| > sorry, she rents a nice-sized cape cod with BIL near ... I guess it's Rockville? Rockville heading west to North Potomac. |
Anonymous
Workforce housing isn't. There's a new program going on for some King Farm condos right now. |
Anonymous
Most (not all) of the teachers who are making that salary are younger, recent college graduates. I don't think a single 23-24 year old expects to buy a house on 45K a year - I certainly didn't at that age. I made much less coming out of college and manage to support myself in a small 1BR apartment and pay for basic needs. But I never even considered buying a house. |
Anonymous
| And did you have kids at that time? |
Anonymous
Is BIL working too? |
Anonymous
No, and I would have to bet that the majority of teachers just starting out don't either, or if they do, they have a husband/partner who is also contributing to the household income. I work in a school, and I can only think of one person who is single with a child who teaches there. Most are either childless and single, married with children, or divorced with children. Of course I don't know everyone's relationship situation, but as a general rule, I would say that is the case. It would be hard to raise a child on a teacher's salary, but it is not impossible. There are people who live on much less in this area and manage to somehow get by. Teachers also have the flexibility compared to some other jobs that they are on the same schedule as their kids, so they might be able to save on childcare by not having to pay for aftercare or summer care. Would it be an easy life, no. But it is doable. |