I want to be a teacher because I love to interact with people, and kids are easy to understand and it’s great to watch them grow. But can someone give me optimism on the pay, and being able to support a family on the income?

FIRSTLY, STUDENTS ARE NOT EASILY UNDERSTOOD BY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE INCOME CONCERNS..... FROM MY 20YRS IN TEACHING; THOSE TEACHERS WHO FOCUS. OR HAVE PAY QUESTIONS, AT SOME POINT YOU WILL BECOME LIKE THE MANY..... WHO THEN DISPLACE ISSUES ONTO THE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY ARE MOST "NEEDY" STIDENTS..... which in turn will begin a cycle of scarcity and lack.....in mind, body, heart, soul, and spirit...... if your concerns is on pay, you should know, teachers are historically unappreciated and pay will never be in accordance with the work it takes to be a “true” teacher..... and for true teachers that’s perfect for we are not concerned with pay...... we love our lord and savior, and we have unwavering faith, hope, and LOVE and he will always provide us..... as long as we continue to be of him and not of the world.... for the things of the world are carnally temporal.... while his work, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, meekness, and long suffering are eternal.......

lastly, if you believe, ask him, and he will lead you to your answers....... you search for..... for the pure of heart shall see God.... and our students/children are pure, peaceful, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy.......

James 3:17..... if you encompsss the qualities above, God shall become your rock, shield, and SALVATION.....🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Dear Ryan,

I love the way you have expressed your love 'to be a teacher' but you have a dilemma about pay packages enough to support a family.

Let me begin by saying that I started my career as a teacher and it was a decent salary by all standards. I was allotted a big house that too with free meals, so I didn't have any financial issue. I was unmarried than, so I didn't know how other teachers were managing their household affairs at their respective salaries, given the kind of decent lifestyle they had. I am sure, salaries must be enough to maintain a decent lifestyles as children were given free education in that boarding school ( as day scholars). Although I loved teaching, I was motivated to join military because most of the staffs were veterans. Now after three decades of soldiering and professional life, I found that at every level/professional opportunity I did act like a teacher and today I have again become a faculty (although a Visiting one). So don't sacrifice the 'Love' just out of fear of unknown (at this moment to say the least).

Now let me come onto the pay package you are looking for. You must be knowing that all over the world, USA Embassies run schools specially where they have a big presence (like in Delhi), where pay is almost equivalent to USA homeland salaries wherein cost of living in emerging economies like India/China/Nigeria/MEA or even Cambodia/Thailand/Indonesia/Malaysia etc are much lower. You can live a decent lifestyle if not lavish one and save some money for future as well. Moreover, all over the globe Science/Maths/English teachers are high in demand and expat teachers are paid much higher than their counterparts, thus finances will never be a problem if you are located abroad. Since I don't know your subject, class or year/level you are in, but you must look at the opportunities abroad which will give you enough for supporting a family and decent living.

At the end, I would like to say that please follow your heart and be a teacher, one of the noblest profession we know, and prepare the better citizens for a better tomorrow.

All the very Best!

Hi Ryan,

I think you are already on the right path. Your passion for helping others is exactly what we need in the teaching profession. I have been teaching for over 30 years. I actually am a professor now and make less money than when I was a classroom teacher. But, when you do the right thing for the right reasons, you will reap many rewards and blessings - some financial, some just plain old blessings.

I taught for a few years as a single parent with one child. I tutored for extra money - in fact I've always tutored. The extra money is for vacations and travel - which I love to do. So, my teaching income has paid all bills like rent, utilities, and a car note! Then, I tutored when I wanted to for extra cash.

I even make enough to go to movies - my other passion! So, Ryan, with any job there are concerns about making enough money to live. But, you are entering a profession where there are always jobs and in every city in America.

Much luck to you,

Stephanie