Teachers Salaries: Math & Physics BSc, Postgrad in UK, USA, Canada, Australia

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the starting salaries of Math and Physics teachers with a Bachelor of Science and a postgraduate diploma in secondary school teaching across the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. It includes comparisons of salary ranges, factors influencing salaries, and considerations of cost of living in different regions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant estimates starting salaries for teachers in the US to be around $32,000-35,000, noting variability by state.
  • Another participant references New York State salaries for the 2006-2007 school year, suggesting a starting salary for master's degree holders between $35,000-45,000, influenced by school district budgets and union contracts.
  • A participant mentions that most US school districts have a salary schedule that affects hiring based on education and experience, with union membership impacting salary negotiations.
  • In the UK, salaries are reported to range from £20,000 to £35,000, depending on location and experience, with potential for higher earnings in college lectureships.
  • One participant expresses curiosity about cost of living differences, noting that UK salaries, when converted to USD, appear higher than US salaries for similar positions.
  • Another participant suggests that the cost of living in the UK is generally higher than in the US, except in major cities like New York or LA.
  • A participant states that starting salaries for teachers in Australia (VIC/NSW) are around $56,000, with potential increases and additional earnings from tutoring and leadership roles.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present various salary estimates and factors affecting teacher salaries in different countries, but there is no consensus on specific figures or the impact of cost of living. Multiple competing views remain regarding the comparison of salaries across the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia.

Contextual Notes

Discussions include assumptions about salary ranges being influenced by location, experience, and union contracts. There are also references to licensing requirements for teachers in the US that may affect employment opportunities.

tjr39
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What would the average Math and/or Physics Teacher with a Bachelor of Science (double major in Math and Phys with a post grad diploma in secondary school teaching) start out earning in

UK??

USA??

Canada??

Australia??
 
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In the US, I would say $32,000-35,000 although it could be more or less depending on the states
 
Here is a link to the New York State teachers salaries for 2006-2007 School Year: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/irts/pmf/home.shtml

From what I could tell on average, for a masters degree holding teacher starting you will be in the 35000-45000. It is highly dependent on the school district. You need to realize, however, that because in the US most (all?) teachers (non-university) are forced to be in a workers union. This union negotiates contracts for you. This is both good and bad. They set a minimum salary for someone with X years experience and Y amount of post graduate credits/degrees. What this does is makes it harder for the school district to hire someone with more education because they will cost more and every school district that is publicly funded (and most that are private also) are very heavily constrained by their budgets.
 
Most if not all school districts in the US have a salary schedule that has the form
www.pausd.org/community/downloads/employment/TeacherSalary.pdf[/URL]. (This district is well-off in an expensive area, so the numbers are higher than average.)

And technically, you don't *have* to join the union... you *do* have to pay dues and be bound by the contract they negotiate though, so it isn't much of a distinction. (Apparently, you can ask for a refund of the portion of the dues that go to political activity.)
 
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Uk salaries are usually £20 000 - £35 000, depending on location and experience. You might get more with a lectureship at a college. A college is not a university by the way.

http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/lifeasateacher/payandbenefits.aspx
 
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I am curious about cost of living differences between UK and US.

The UK salary range is significantly higher (when converted to USD) than US salaries for equivalent positions. At the low end, public school teachers with bachelor's degrees and no experience (first year) earn mid to high $20k. At the high end, mid to high $30k, perhaps up to $40k at the extreme.

Also, be aware that licensing of teachers is at the state level in the US, and you may need to complete coursework or take exams in order to receive a license. Sometimes you can accept a position on a provisional or restricted license until you have satisfied the requirements of the state.
 
I think generally the cost of living in the UK is usually more than the US except for perhaps New York or LA or other similar cities(which will be similar to London for living costs).
 
Starting salary for a teacher in Australia VIC/NSW is $56,000 total package (includes 9% super)

Goes up to about $75,000 after a 8 years and tutoring can pay a mint, $36 an hour or so.

More for a masters and for taking on leadership.

Depending on the school you end up you could be working less than 30 hours a week.
 

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