Study Reveals FCPS Teacher Career Salaries $142K Below Average of Regional Peers

[Anonymous]

http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=2885

"A study conducted by Segal Waters Consulting has revealed that Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) teacher salaries fall well behind those of other local jurisdictions, particularly in years 5-20 of a teacher’s career. Over a 30-year career, an FCPS teacher earns $142,000 less than our survey average and $293,000 less than a teacher at Arlington Public Schools. The study was presented to the Fairfax County School Board at its December 7 work session."

[Anonymous]

this does not take benefits into consideration. The delta is MUCH less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this does not take benefits into consideration. The delta is MUCH less.

Please share the info you have.

[Anonymous]

My SIL is a 4th grade teacher in a Long Island, NY school district. She's been at her job for about 20 years, is in her mid 40s and makes a salary of $125K/year (plus benefits). That's more than I make as an engineer with the same experience. I sometimes wonder if I made the right choice.

[Anonymous]

I'm in MoCo. Now I want to see how we stack up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this does not take benefits into consideration. The delta is MUCH less.

Can't pay mortgage with benefits or send kids to college on them. Sucks if you are a healthy adult who doesn't use a lot of health care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My SIL is a 4th grade teacher in a Long Island, NY school district. She's been at her job for about 20 years, is in her mid 40s and makes a salary of $125K/year (plus benefits). That's more than I make as an engineer with the same experience. I sometimes wonder if I made the right choice.

Keep in mind the above report is focused on FCPS compensation compared to surrounding districts. Depending on your SIL's degree level, she would make between $76k and $82k. If you make less than $82k as an engineer with 20 years experience, the yes I agree. You should find somebody else to work for.

[Anonymous]

Just an FYI - our firm always adjusts our salaries to the local standard set by our peers at other firms. It's part of our annual compensation discussion so we know where we stand in the local economy. And, from a business perspective, negates the desire to jump firms.

[Anonymous]

The President of the United States - the leader of the world(!) - makes 400K.

Come on, I think teachers have a tough job but...let's be reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The President of the United States - the leader of the world(!) - makes 400K.

Come on, I think teachers have a tough job but...let's be reasonable.

Are you talking about absolute values, comparing salary? This study is comparing salaries of nearby districts, which is surely more relevant than what the president, i-bsnkers, or CEOs make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The President of the United States - the leader of the world(!) - makes 400K.

Come on, I think teachers have a tough job but...let's be reasonable.

Are you talking about absolute values, comparing salary? This study is comparing salaries of nearby districts, which is surely more relevant than what the president, i-bsnkers, or CEOs make.

Last I checked, The President didn't live that far away from Arlington...haha.

Is there any reason on earth that a public school teacher - who gets summers off, long holiday breaks, "appreciation days" along with excellent benefits - should be a commanding such an enormous salary? Hey, I appreciate teachers but..300K?? Nah. Sorry.

The President is on duty 24/7 -if something happens while he is on vacation he gets off his lounge chair and goes and handles it. He is in the public eye accountable for his every word 24/7. And he makes 400K for his public service to our country.

Just because one school system is completely bonkers doesn't mean they all should be.

[Anonymous]

Did they really need to hire and pay consultants to calculate this out? Seems like a high school math class could have done this for free.

[Anonymous]

My husband teaches in FCPS. He has a Masters degree and 15 years of teaching experience (10 of them at the same FCPS school) - he makes about $65k. He's strongly considering switching to Arlington for the pay. It's tough living in this area on that kind of income. We realized we weren't going to be well-off with his career choice, but this has gotten to be too much.

We have two kids in FCPS schools, so we care about the quality of schools and teachers here. I hope FCPS finds a long-term fix soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The President of the United States - the leader of the world(!) - makes 400K.

Come on, I think teachers have a tough job but...let's be reasonable.

Are you talking about absolute values, comparing salary? This study is comparing salaries of nearby districts, which is surely more relevant than what the president, i-bsnkers, or CEOs make.

Last I checked, The President didn't live that far away from Arlington...haha.

Is there any reason on earth that a public school teacher - who gets summers off, long holiday breaks, "appreciation days" along with excellent benefits - should be a commanding such an enormous salary? Hey, I appreciate teachers but..300K?? Nah. Sorry.

The President is on duty 24/7 -if something happens while he is on vacation he gets off his lounge chair and goes and handles it. He is in the public eye accountable for his every word 24/7. And he makes 400K for his public service to our country.

Just because one school system is completely bonkers doesn't mean they all should be.

Fairfax pays much less than other nearby school districts. If they are all bonkers but one, that will have a negative affect on teacher retention and teacher quality. Right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband teaches in FCPS. He has a Masters degree and 15 years of teaching experience (10 of them at the same FCPS school) - he makes about $65k. He's strongly considering switching to Arlington for the pay. It's tough living in this area on that kind of income. We realized we weren't going to be well-off with his career choice, but this has gotten to be too much.

We have two kids in FCPS schools, so we care about the quality of schools and teachers here. I hope FCPS finds a long-term fix soon.

65k at his level is way too low IMO.