How much do teachers work over the course of the year? Let me tell you that no one has the slightest idea. Here’s why: First, different sources put work hours per week (during the school year) anywhere from about 40 hours a week to 50. That’s a huge difference. My guess is weekly hours during the school year aren’t too different from the hours of other college educated professionals. Second, there is no good evidence on how much time teachers spend during the summer prepping for teaching. Here my guess is that teachers put in quite a few hours unpaid hours during the summer, but the data behind the guess isn’t all that good. Bottom line: the uncertainty about hours of off-the-clock teacher work is too large to let us draw good conclusions about how many hours a year the average teacher puts in.
In contrast, we do know something about how many days a year teachers put in on-the-clock. My friends at the NCTQ put together the numbers for me. Here we compare teachers to private sector, “professional and related” workers with 10 years experience.
| Days per year | Teachers | Private sector professional workers with 10 years experience |
|---|---|---|
| Work days per year | 260 | |
| Paid vacation | 20 | |
| Paid holidays | 9 | |
| Contracted work days | 185 | 231 |
| Paid sick/personal leave | 13.5 | 11 |
| Work days if all leave taken | 171.5 | 220 |
The on-the-clock work days per year numbers are probably pretty accurate, But, again, we don’t know much about off-the-clock hours.
The NCTQ has turned up one very interesting fact. They report that the average number days of sick leave for teachers isn’t that different from what private sector professionals get (13.5 versus 11 in the table above). But NCTQ found huge variation in contracted leave days. A number of districts give teachers 20+ days of leave. That seems awfully high.
I live in rural America, and I can tell you our teachers are making nowhere near $70,000 a year!
I work 50-60 hours a week on average (and up to 70 hours several weeks every year). That doesn’t include the hours I spend working from home EVERY day including weekends. My salary is just over $50,000. I pay for my own health insurance and retirement out of that salary. I throw the employees under me a Christmas party. I buy them gifts for Christmas and other occasions throughout the year (several thousand dollars yearly). I do not claim that on my taxes even though I think I could (because this comes from me not the government). I work hard for my pay (all year round). Together with my wife we make about $70,000 yearly. Our family of 5 lives very comfortably. I get to spend a lot of time with my family throughout the week. Also 2 weeks of vacation and 5 paid holidays yearly.
I only tell you this because of all the complaints I hear from teachers. My level of education and pay is comparable to my children’s teachers. Except I pay for more out of my own pocket. Even then like I said before we live VERY COMFORTABLY.
I just don’t understand teachers. They expect constant raises. Not for their performance but just because they are TEACHERS. The only time I get a raise is when I deserve one. I have never gotten one without going far above and beyond my duties. Why should teachers be any different?
I know being a teacher is not easy. But why are they not being held to the same standards that the rest of us are? Why is their pay not based on their performance? Can anyone answer these questions?
I do have the highest respect for teachers. It’s a tough job and if you are in it for the students it is a stressful job as well. If you love it, you also have a rewarding job. But I can tell you that in a job outside of teaching they jobs are tough. stressful and can also be rewarding. For example a social worker or case work with an aging agency , gets paid a moderately low (lower than a teacher) and has long long hours as well as the stress of someone’s health and well being on their shoulders. But it is rewarding as well when you see the difference you can make in someone’s life. The fact is their are some bad teachers who shouldn’t even be in that career at all and there are some bad case workers who should not be in that field at all. Why they are is beyond me. AS someone pointed out, you know going in the pay from the get go and you know the potential for the salary going up. It’s no surprise. So why complain? You decided to accept the salary when you chose the jobs, don’t come crying about it later. The fact is you agreed to the pay just by entering into the career. Now I do know that teaching has gotten potentially dangerous. But that danger is far less than a case worker or social worker who puts themselves in some of the worst crime areas daily, not a hap hazard possible dangerous situation but an actual dangerous situation daily. I personally know case workers who have been attacked and robbed while delivering a hot meal to a low income senior. But the danger of that is known going into the work. You gotta love what you do or you won’t last. Dangers of teaching are not as high as social services but they are getting more so. However, people don’t seem to realize that school violence is not a new thing. I believe school violence started somewhere as early as the 1700’s and was quite a danger by the 1800’s. So any teacher should know the dangers. And as far as long hours, I really don’t personally know of any job, career that one works only 40 hrs a wk. Maybe some on paper, but if you work outside the home (and in the home as far as that goes) I know of no one who doesn’t do some work at home, spend some time overtime (paid or not), who doesn’t have to perform better and better to get a raise, who isn’t asked to double up on extra duties or work when the need arises, who doesn’t have to be on call even when off days come around, who doesn’t have to deal with politics in the work place and who actually makes the salary deserve and who doesn’t get fed up sometimes. Now that is spoken in general in regards to anyone who works and at whatever job or career one might have. And it is not speaking as to those workers we all know (even thou it is most always just a few… one or two in this office or that job who make more than they are worth, who don’t go the extra mile, and who do their time and not a minute more. It is life folks get used to it. Get the job you want and work it to the best of your ability and know what you are getting into before you do. On the other hand if you can leave a job you only want to complain about, do so. And if you can’t leave a job you have, plan for the future and make a way to do so later. And that is not possible, and you must stay in the job you have even when you want out. Better not complain too much and better do the best you can and better be glad you have that job if the need is that great.
I agree 100%
Hospitals are open 24/7 !! Even the school nurse works harder and longer then any teacher.
You have no idea what you are talking about. I work 42.5 hours a week that I have to be at my school. Then I grade another hour each day at least. Not to mention lesson planning as a first year teacher takes like 15 hours of every week and even the seasoned teachers at my school who have 5 preps still say they put a couple hours in each weekend on their lesson plans. The very least a teacher where I’m from works about 45-50 hours a week and more likely closer to 60 hours which is what I clock on my down weeks. Some days I work 16 hours straight if I’m calling parents, discussing matters with other teachers after school, and talking to my building administrator. If a teacher worked just the bare minimum they won’t be a teacher for long…
I find it most interesting when anyone attempts to quantify a “teachers work” the resultant claim is “you have no idea what you are talking about.” No matter what fact base or metric is used the claim is the same. In a normal school system, a teacher is paid to TEACH a school year for around 170 days. But that number includes school breaks, holidays, professional days etc, this really comes to about 160 days.
Also, most teachers arrive at school about 7:30 and 95% are gone by 3:15 most of the time. Class periods are approximately 45 minutes long and most teachers have teach about 6 classes a day, so in round numbers this comes to about 4.5 hours a day, teaching, in the classroom. Each receives a lunch break and planning period as well. Most test today are standardized any and often quickly processed, save for perhaps English or literature. There are always the claims ” Some days I work 16 hours straight if I’m calling parents, discussing matters with other teachers after school, and talking to my building administrator” but oddly enough trying to set up a meeting with a teacher after hours seems to be a near impossibility-which one would find odd considering the claims of 60 hour weeks. A review of your post suggest you are either not very efficient or not an effective planner. Your “demands” on your time are no different than those of any other professional when it comes to our “time”. In business we all have unexpected demand on our time and interruptions, but few employers would accept “well if you paid me more I would get more done. The average work is paid for 2080 hours a year (or about 260 days), a teacher is paid for about 171 work days a year which is about 65% of the time of other state workers. (NOTE: I have used the term most and generally.)
Very well said
Thanks for finally breath of fresh air legitimate post!! Well said!! I wish I could work part-time for full-time pay.
I never got paid for work done at home; and there was always plenty. Teachers, given the actual time worked, make good money. Would I want the job? No way, but I didn’t chose it as my career either. Most are aware of the salaries paid by civil service and educational vocations; and they all complain about the salary like it was a shock to them. Do not like the money; stop teaching.
Rod but don’t you get planning periods? And teachers aids? I have a lot of friends that are school teachers and I never see them bringing work home. They do attend ball games and such if they are class sponsors or coaches but there again, any extra activities like that they get stipends for so extra money. In the real world when you get a salary, you owe them your life including weekends 50 weeks per year. I don’t think I’ve ever had a vacation in insurance that I didn’t pay for the week before working over time to get things caught up and then hell the week after catching up after being gone and sometimes during your time off you get called with problems because there is never a end or wrap up to most of our jobs like a school year ending. Teachers make more than I do and only work 36 weeks per year. I have the same amount of education and My roommate in college was an elementary education major, mine was business. There was not one night that I didn’t wish I had her assignments rather than mine. Mine complex, hers reading primary books to give reports on.
In Arizona we have the worst teachers in the USA. They even have teachers aides that can’t even speak English. They work 171.5 days a year!! Please talk to a nurse that really works. They work on holidays ,weekends ,on call, plus over time. They also must keep up with certifications, everyday in the operating room we must keep up with new procedures, After work meeting. Lawsuits etc. Teachers are overpaid babysitters with a union.
Wow! Overpaid babysitters? Give me a break! But ok, then how about they get paid like a babysitter? Heck, let’s even give them a minuscule amount of $5/hour. So, for them to “babysit” 1 kid for 7 hours they should earn $35 … PER CHILD! Multiply that times a minimum of 20 children per class and they should be getting paid $700 a day … or $3500 per week … times 36 weeks of work = $126,000 per year. Yep, that sounds about right!
Ann for real? Teachers in rural America are getting $70,000 per year on average to work 36 weeks per year. That’s 72% of the time most other careers have. If you consider if they worked 50 weeks then their pay is equivalent to $89600 per year. How many college degreed people do you know in small town rural America that makes that much money? If you do you work 7 days per week, 12-16 hours per day and never have any peaceful time off because your work is a never ending cycle. I’m speaking of my situation of course. I have rude people and lawsuit exposure hanging over my head. Driving a lot and exhausted so my work is dangerous too. Lots of ulcers in our industry except we don’t dare complain or you’re out the door.
Have you ever read the research on teacher pay? The average is NOT 70,000 a year….some states its in the 30s.
An average school teacher in Colorado makes $55,000 a year.
1000 hours of instruction requirement.
If you need an additional 1000 hours for prep.
That would be 2000 hours a year.
That is $27.50 an hour.
That does no include health care or retirement cost.
I have worked as many as 96 hours a week at $10.00 an hour.
No one made work for $10.00 an hour.
No one is making you teach.
You knew how much it paid.
If you need more money get a job that pays more.
Exactly.
Here is some food for thought. Why don’t we put teachers on a pay for performance salary system (just like sales people) There is no paid time off, no paid leave of absents personal or sick leave, no paid holidays, no subsidized medical benefits and oh yeah lets give their employers the right to fire them for poor performance. If the kids they are teaching fail they get no pay check. On the up side pay them 100k a year based on performance and bonuses. Stop whining, you signed a contract, no one held a gun to your head and you chose this as a profession. Here’s a clue you want to make more money change jobs
Good idea!!!!
So teachers who live in an area with poor primary schools have more work to do. Teachers with brighter pupils and parents who support them/ make pupils do homework get more money for an easier job.
Perhaps an attainment based system where target grades based on entry level ability is used for performance not final grades…. If a teacher is able to raise a pupil above expectations they get a bonus like you would in say sales for selling above target level…. Oh wait. That is the current system for pay rises and bonuses.
Private sector professional – 20 paid vacation days a year!? As a 20-year attorney, I can tell you I’ve never seen nor heard of anyone getting 4 weeks (20 days) of vacation time in any professional position! In my first 10 years, it was 2 weeks (10 days) and frowned upon if that time was taken other than for a special event like a honeymoon. It was also routine for young attorneys to work 6-7 days a week, same for many of my colleagues in other professions. Try bumping that # of work days actually worked up much closer to 280+ for a 10 year lawyer, and I’m sure many other professionals.
PS – Any the average work week for a young (under 10 years) lawyer can be anywhere from 60-100 hrs/week. Again, I’m sure this varies widely per profession, but if the idea is to compare professions, there are a lot of nuisances that a general chart won’t take into account.
Lol. I get 5 weeks paid vacation, 10 paid holidays a year, and get 8 hours sick time banked each month. Oh, and I work 4 days a week. Dont say its unheard of in ANY professional position. I had a similar situation at my previous company.
Oh yeah I’ve never worked at any company that has more than 2 weeks off that actually encouraged you to take it. I remember one job where if you worked there 10 years you got 3 weeks but the boss said and if you think we can do without you for 3 weeks then we don’t need you. I got harassed for being called to jury duty.
I think the answer varies widely depending on your country, state, type of school, etc.
Of my 10 years teaching, 8 of them have been at charter schools in various states in the US (2 years Washington, DC, a half a year in Wisconsin, 4 years in NYC, and 2 years in Tennessee). In addition to charter schools, I spent a year student teaching at a non-profit school for students with social and emotional disabilities and a year teaching abroad at an international school in Italy–so I think my experience gives me somewhat of a broad picture of different teaching situations.
Mainly my schedule has been: My teaching day begins at 7:15/7:30 am (that is when students arrive) and ends at 3:45/4:45 pm (on the clock)–that’s 8-9 hours if you are doing the math so 40-45 hours a week that is officially on the clock. In addition to that, what is not reported is that I generally arrive a half hour ahead of time to prepare and leave a half an hour to one hour after school in order to clean-up, prepare for the next day, etc. In addition, I generally have 3-4 hours off the clock a week (at least) spent lesson planning, working on IEPs (I teach special education), creating materials (you create a LOT of materials for primary-age special needs children), calling parents, coordinating with other teachers, etc.
My current school which is a public charter Montessori school has less demands planning wise than the “No Excuses” Charter School I taught at in NYC. That school day started for students (aged 4) at 7:15 am and ended at 4:30pm. Weekly lesson plans for each subject were generally 20-30 pages long (in our grade level we were each in charge of one subject area) not including student materials that we had to prep. Total that was about 100-120 pages of lesson plans that we were committing to memory a week. I worked extremely long hours at that school–on a few occasions I left school at 2 am–I held hours that were similar to a Wall Street banker (minus the paycheck!).
In addition, I have throughout my career usually taught enrichment classes or coached sports after-school–so add another 3-4 hours a week for that.
Although my current school requires less in terms of planning requirements (no 120 pages of less plans a week–thank God), the student needs I encounter are more intense. I currently have no scheduled lunch break (I eat lunch with my students) or break at all. I teach students with severe to moderate disabilities who need assistance ALL day (with meals/feeding, toileting, playing outside, etc.) and I get NO BREAKS for 8 hours a day. It is a very difficult job and I have already been through 2 assistants this year who simply could not hack it or keep up with the demands of the job.
I have take 2 days off this year–once for a professional development workshop I wanted to attend and once for being “sick” (actually I was just exhausted and really needed a mental health day).
I have only had one real summer in my career of teaching (i.e. 4-6 weeks off)–all other summers I have been either in graduate school courses or professional development. These past 2 summers I have been completing a Master’s level Montessori certification program over the summer from 8am-4pm daily and am also in school going back for a doctorate in Applied Behavior Analysis.
And so, this is my last year teaching. I am quite simply exhausted and I want to enjoy the life that other professionals take for granted (getting to go to the bathroom when you need to going to the bathroom, having a lunch break, having some control over your schedule, getting to enjoy weekends and my loved ones). Thus, I am completing my doctorate in ABA and start my own practice as a therapist and hope that this will help me have a more balanced lifestyle.
It kills me though that teachers are so undervalued yet our very society relies on them so much that without them we could not function. Few people can do the job that I do–work in a severely under-served community (in Memphis, TN–lots of violence) with the most in-need children (severe autism) who have intense behavioral difficulties–I have seen others try and fail. It is not for the faint of heart–it is very challenging and important work.
Teachers deserve respect. Before you harp on teachers, because “anyone can teach” . My response to that is, “Really? Please try it then.” Go ahead, volunteer as a substitute in your most underserved school district so you can see it with your own eyes. Just because you were a student yourself does not mean that you can teach. It is waaaay more nuanced than most people realize. Especially when you are working with underserved or special populations.
Oh yeah I’ve never worked at any company that has more than 2 weeks off that actually encouraged you to take it. I remember one job where if you worked there 10 years you got 3 weeks but the boss said and if you think we can do without you for 3 weeks then we don’t need you. I got harassed for being called to jury duty.
you need to show how many days a teacher will get off
As a PGCE student, I find that I am working soo many hours more than an average job (and I only teach 6-8 lessons a week!) most of my time at home is taken up by paper work or mainly planning the next lesson.
Im told my planning and other paper work will get faster as I get better at it, but at the same time I will then be doing more lessons a week.
So I can fully understand how it is easily 50+ hours a week a mainstream teacher works.
As a elementary teacher from Miami, Florida I am required to clock in at 7:45 am and clock out at 3:30 am. During that time I have an hour and a half of planning, 30 minutes of lunch, 30 minutes of dismissal (supervising students making sure they go home correctly) and 15 minutes of classroom prep time. The rest is instructional hours.
I am required to work 7 hours and 45 minutes per day. 2 hours and 45 minutes are non-instructional hours and 5 hours are instructional hours. Per contract teachers are required to participate in several extracurricular activities like open house, graduation and other afterschool events which are not paid.
I never take work home. I grade the minimum amount of assignments. I do not provide students make up work or extra credit because that just adds tons of work for me. I only do parent teacher conference as a last resort. I usually communicate to parents through email. Email saves me lots of time. My lesson plans are in a predictable pattern. Makes lesson planning easier and faster. Prevents me from wasting time trying to think up an assignment or project from the top of my head. So by doing I never have to plan at home.
I find that teachers that take work home are grading too much. It is not possible to grade every assignment that is given in class. I tell my students everything you do in class is for a grade. This keeps students motivated, but the truth is that I only take one grade per subject per week. Everything else I just give check marks if the student did the assignment completely.
Some other teachers like to give out their personal cellphone number to parents. Well of course parents are gonna call at ridiculous hours if you do that. I never give out my personal cellphone number. I also do not connect my work email to my phone. Why do I want to see parent emails and work emails in my personal phone. If parents want an answer they would have to wait the next school day for it.
By doing all these things I get by really easy. I never have to work at home. I am currently enjoying my winder break 🙂
So you’re the teacher that all others hate because you do the bare minimum, probably don’t do much actual planning outside of school and cause them to do much more work while riding on their backs.
That seems to be all most teachers do these days. My kids have NEVER had a teacher I would call good.
You should be ashamed; not bragging. Sounds like you do the very least you can do; with little regard to your students’ outcome. You should fins another profession.
I think it is all dependent of where you work and what type of school system. If you teach at Univeristy level, you can easily make up to $60 an hour.
If you are a public school teacher, you make less but your benefits are way better and you get many days off.
When you search for a career, you usually know what to expect.
Police officers start out with very small salaries and have a dangerous job.
Firefighters have to work 24 hour shifts.
Nurses have to work 12 hours shifts. Nights. Holidays. Weekends.
I am a Nurse Practitioner. I have 2 jobs plus I teach clinicals on the weekends.
If you want more money, go and work for it. You can also try teaching at University level, tutor on the side. Create summer camps for children, etc.
I wish I had almost 3 months off a year, even if it meant making less money so that I can spend time with my family. Teachers have EVERY holiday paid and off. You have insurance. You have 401k. You have unions. Instead of always complaining, Weigh your Pros vs your cons. Most of you are home by 5 pm. If you choose to take work with you home it is because you want to. By law, you need to get paid overtime if you go over 40 hours a week.
If you are salary, don’t take work home with you to then complain about it. Most teaching plans are pre-populated and reused. You have teacher planning days.
I can keep going. Seriously.
As a veteran (elementary) teacher–I can say with all certainty that teachers work many, many hours outside of their contracts–both in the evenings grading and planning—AND answering emails from parents. Sundays at my house are often spent planning for the week ahead. I have never ever reported to work at 9 a.m. I typically arrive at school by 7 and leave after 5. Teachers have 30-40 minutes for lunch during which time I eat lunch (standing) while I am prepping for my afternoon classes. If I’m lucky, I get to go to the restroom…….Another misnomer—that teachers have ‘all summer’ off—in our dreams! Between attending professional developments, training, out of state PD, and setting up classrooms, our vacation comes out to two or three weeks at a run. Oh, and did I mention back to school nights, PTO meetings, mentoring other teachers, school celebrations and functions? You don’t get paid for those at all. 🙂
What are your thoughts on privatizing school and charging for all the additional services you provide?
You get paid a SALARY so yes you do get paid for THOSE!
Spring break – OFF
Winter Break – OFF
Summer – At least 10 weeks OFF
Paid Holidays – what is it about 9-10
Sick days – at least another week?
PTO- at least another 20 days
Health Insurance.
401k or TIAA
Dental Insurance
Let’s not mention if you work for a college or Univeristy your children get to attend for FREE
Good thing teachers got into teaching.
Try being a cop, nurse, firefighter. Weekends. Nights. Holidays. 12-24 hour shifts. Oh and PS , they don’t make 100k a year either. They make 40-60k depending on location.
If I took time out of my job and spent a day following you around, how much of what you write would be proven false? And the summer out of state seminars are paid, continuing education requirements and other than sitting through a couple of semi entertaining, over priced liberal agenda presentations, the trips are quite enjoyable. Let’s get real!
@globeteck Don’t forget to subtract all the sick days, personal days, & vacation days. Did I miss anything?
I remember teachers doing their work while students are working on theirs.
Absolute rubbish.
Teachers clock on at 9am and schools out at 3pm – how in the hell do you get 40-50 hours per week. The teacher next door to us is home at 3.20pm on the dot every day !!!
The more pertinent question is how long does the teacher actually teach classes each day. An ex teacher I know puts it at around 3-4 hours per day. Teachers, through their
union, have become the most underworked and overpaid “workers” in Australia bar none. They are also incompetent as any cursory reading of Australia’s numeracy and literacy deterioration shows.
Not all teachers clock in at 9 just saying. Most clock in at around 7 for high school. They do not leave until at least 3. That is 8 hours right there. Now if they need to work over time for a sport or to help a student, that is where they get all the hours.
I guess teachers were never taught what a SALARY is
There is so much more that goes in to teaching than being in the classroom or even at school. Please do not compare clocking in and out of a ‘leave it at work’ job, with teaching. Teachers are planning and preparing before they go into school each morning, and each afternoon, along with part of their weekends, and a good bulk of their summers are: planning, grading, researching, preparing, and shopping for classes amongst other things.
Most teachers are in their building by 7:30 average. School lets out around 3, but many teachers also have after-school responsibilities, classes or tutoring.
Before school: Plan out morning message, board work, prepare folders etc 30min*5= 2.5 hrs
At school: Teaching 5 periods, 45 min each 4.5 hours*5= 18.75 hrs
After-school class 2*45min= 1.5 hrs
Grading 23 papers, 23 Writing notebooks, 23 Math notebooks = 2.5hrs*4 nights= 10 hrs
Researching for, planning for, creating materials for engaging lessons = 2hrs*3 = 6 hrs + 2*3hrs on the weekend = 12 hrs
We’re already at 44.75 hrs and we haven’t added in: planning meetings, Professional Development meetings, extra time on certain weeks for Parent Teacher Conferences, Final grading and report cards, portfolios, school productions, etc
Walking in my door, does not mean I am not working for my school, my class and my students. It just means I’m not doing it inside the school building.
Your comment is rubbish. Do not make ridiculous remarks on something you don’t know anything about. Most teachers work more than 8 hours a day. Also why are you creepily spying on the teacher next door to you for you to know that she/he is home at 3:20pm every day? Why does it matter to you anyways?
No need to be childish with the insults. I use to volunteer for my kids school and the end of the day bell would ring, the kids were lined up and departed the premises within 10 minutes. Within 20 minutes you couldn’t find a teacher in the building or even the parking lot. Most teachers either pass papers to other students to correct or use aids and room mothers. 4 times a year they may work at home recording grades and preparing report cards. I don’t know why anyone wants to lie or EXAGGERATE to get sympathy while demanding 15-18% raises? Oh wait …..
I sooo agree. I live beside a “teachers assistant”. She leaves her house at 7am and returns around before 3pm… She cannot put a sentence together which makes me wonder how she can grade an English paper?? She’s is striking with the rest of the teachers in West Virginia and honestly is not worth the amount of money they pay her.
And teachers have assistance to help with their work as well. Some even have high school students who come and tutor one the class’s students. Seems to me, that will all the classroom help if they are putting in such long hours, they need to find a new system because it doesn’t seem to be working so well for them.
@brother_polight #IRS LMAO Teachers get paid $40k to work 172 days a year https://t.co/FH3VeWeflH
https://t.co/o9DgRZwIrO
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