Another reason to apply to TKY: Jefferson County excels in teacher salary study
There is good news for starting teachers in Louisville, KY. In a December 2014 study from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), Jefferson County Public Schools ranked among the top districts in teachers’ lifetime earnings and the average number of years it takes teachers to reach their maximum salary.
The purpose of the study was to measure not just how much teachers across the country are making at the beginning and end of their careers, but to assess total lifetime earnings, how many years it takes to reach maximum earnings and which districts offer the best bang for their buck. Looking at 2013–14 teacher pay schedules from 113 districts across the U.S., the NCTQ ranked districts based on teachers’ likely lifetime earnings and the number of years it takes a teacher to reach an annual salary of $75,000 (the average maximum salary across all of the districts studied).
When adjusted for cost of living, Jefferson County ranked number seven out of the districts studied. Not adjusted for cost of living, Jefferson County showed an average starting salary of $40,118, an average ending salary of $81,854 and average lifetime earnings of $2,038,695. The average number of years to attain a salary of $75,000 was 17 years, generally before a teacher turns 40.
What does this mean for aspiring teachers? When deciding on where to teach, don’t just look at starting salary: do some research to find out the average rate of salary increase for teachers in a given district over the course of their careers. The lower this number, the better your lifetime earnings potential.
According to Rowan Claypool, Founder and Director of Teach Kentucky, “These numbers confirm what we already knew: Jefferson County offers teachers an exceptional value and is a great starting point for new college graduates.” He went on to add: “the real difference is a young teacher can own their own home with a teacher’s income in Louisville while they rarely get that chance in other cities.”
View the study in its entirety here: http://www.nctq.org/dmsView/Smart_Money.
Leave a Reply
Celebrating Isabel Lake’s Journey: From Teacher to Assistant Principal
Celebrating Isabel Lake’s Journey: From Teacher to Assistant Principal At Teach Kentucky, we take immense pride in the growth and success of our educators. Today, we’re thrilled to share another inspiring milestone in the career of one of our own – Isabel Lake. Over a Decade of Dedication Isabel Lake has been an integral part […]
Meet Hannah Lipman: A Success Story with Teach Kentucky
Discovering a Passion for Education Hannah Lipman’s journey to becoming a dedicated educator is nothing short of inspiring. Initially considering a career in healthcare, Hannah’s passion for education, especially in English, blossomed during her undergraduate years, leading her to switch her major to English and Gender & Women’s Studies. Her dedication and commitment to the […]
Celebrating the Teach Kentucky 2022 Cohort Graduation
On Sunday, May 19th, Teach Kentucky staff and board members hosted a heartwarming celebration to honor the graduation of the 2022 Cohort. These dedicated individuals commenced their teaching careers with Teach Kentucky in the summer of 2022, embarking on a transformative journey as they entered into a Master of Arts in Teaching program at one […]
March Recruitment Weekend Recap
The March Recruitment weekend for Teach Kentucky came to a close with a successful and inspiring event. This event welcomed 10 candidates from local and national backgrounds, representing various colleges such as Sarah Lawrence, Bellarmine University, Colorado College, Valparaiso College, Ohio State University, Louisiana Tech, University of Louisville, and University of Mississippi. The new teacher […]
January Recruitment Weekend Roundup
Teach Kentucky recently concluded its January recruiting weekend, hosting a diverse group of 13 candidates with aspirations to become educators in various fields. The event was a great success, bringing together candidates from both local universities and those from out of state. Candidate Overview Geographic Diversity: The 13 candidates included 9 local participants and 4 […]
Introducing Teach Kentucky’s Mid-Year Start Teachers: A New Wave of Educators
When we think about Back to School time, August and September usually come to mind. However, Teach Kentucky is proud to announce a remarkable group of new teachers who will be embarking on their education careers in the middle of the academic year. We extend a warm welcome to Branden McMichael, Kristen Miller, Danielle Moreau, […]
Teach Kentucky’s First Recruiting Weekend for 2024: A Gateway to a Rewarding Teaching Career in Louisville
Teach Kentucky (TKY) recently concluded its first recruiting weekend for 2024, held from December 2-4, 2023. This event served as a platform for TKY to welcome a small yet exceptional group of eight candidates. These candidates, hailing from Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, and Michigan, had the opportunity to interact with TKY staff, current teachers, and […]
Teach Kentucky Offered A Perfect Chance for a Career
Teaching is becoming a profession more and more individuals seek as a second (or third) act in their lives, and this has many benefits for students. Teachers who are beyond their early twenties have more life and professional experiences under their belts; they’ve worked in one or more fields of industry and bring their professional […]
How This California Business Student Became a Teacher in Kentucky
Louis Redd, an eighth-grade math teacher at Stuart Academy, is committed to being a source of positive change among his students at the school, so committed that he traveled over 2,000 miles to do so. His undergraduate degree is business administration, and he had originally thought he wanted to be an entrepreneur or possibly go […]
Watch Teach Kentucky’s Annual Video Event
On January 25, 2023, we presented an online event to share more about why and how Teach Kentucky does what it does. We feature the leaders of Teach Kentucky – Rowan Claypool, president and founder of Teach Kentucky as well as Carl L. Williams, Sr.,board chair of Teach Kentucky. You also hear directly from Teach […]
