Nurse Salary vs. Teacher Salary?

I was talking to a friend this morning and she is just finishing Nursing school and said that she could have become a Teacher with better hours and the same pay? Is this true? I know as a RN we start at $20 an hour. Is this the case for Teachers. I have always been told RN's are paid so well and Teachers not so well. Was I always misinformed? I googled this very question and I didn't get any clear answers. I would love to teach and also get my RN degree and possibly be a RN part time if thats the case.
Interesting, I've always heard the same thing. I've been told that the reason teacher's salaries are lower is b/c they do not work year round and have the summer off. Many pick up summer time jobs or teach summer school b/c they can't afford to take that time off so its not like they are getting a vacation either. Be interesting to hear what others (in the know) say.

Quote from tfleuterInteresting, I've always heard the same thing. I've been told that the reason teacher's salaries are lower is b/c they do not work year round and have the summer off. Many pick up summer time jobs or teach summer school b/c they can't afford to take that time off so its not like they are getting a vacation either. Be interesting to hear what others (in the know) say.

At least in my neck of the woods, a newly graduated teacher with a bachelors makes about $32,000- $36,000 a year and a new grad nurse with an ADN makes anywhere from $19-$23 an hour (so, $35,000 to $43,000 a year, assuming a 36 hours work week) and BSN's generally make a dollar an hour more.As for teaching and working as a nurse part time, it would really only be doable over breaks. I taught high school Spanish for two years and while the 7:15A-3:00P hours look good on paper they are hardly realistic. Most teachers end up spending at least an hour each day outside of the contract hours prepping lessons, grading, completing paperwork, contacting parents and attending meetings. Even more time is required if you teach multiple courses, as each class will require a separate prep. I know I regularly worked 50-60 hour weeks when I was teaching 3 separate courses and supervising the required senior projects.Summers aren't as free as they look either. In my former district we had lots of summer inservices and team meetings right after school let out and a couple of weeks before school began as well. In the little "vacation time" we did have left we were expected to complete our continuing education if needed. But such is the life of a salaried employee.

The school system in my county has a scale posted on their website with the pay scales for their teachers. The pay scale is different depending on a teacher's qualifications (ie BA, MA, PHD, etc). Then, with more years teaching, their pay grows DRAMATICLY. Cetainly, a teacher with fewer degrees has less option for advancement. So, you may have a teacher making $23,000 and one in the next classroom making $86,000.

Quote from Moss1222The school system in my county has a scale posted on their website with the pay scales for their teachers. The pay scale is different depending on a teacher's qualifications (ie BA, MA, PHD, etc). Then, with more years teaching, their pay grows DRAMATICLY. Cetainly, a teacher with fewer degrees has less option for advancement. So, you may have a teacher making $23,000 and one in the next classroom making $86,000.

Quote from lindarnThat may be true, but teachers have far better benefits than nurses do, have pensions that they can actually live/retire, on, have control over their class sizes, and have a union that actually sticks up for them with adminstration. You don't see teachers having to deal with parents insisting on staying in their child's classroom for the entire school day, and trying to control/interfere in the classroom dynamics on a daily basis. I am not saying that parents cannot be PIA's it is just that teachers have the conrol to prevent this from becoming out of control the way it has in hospitals. Nurses wish we had what teachers have. JMHO and my NY $0.02.Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRNSpokane, Washington

I have to agree with the previous poster. I taught at the high school level for 3 years. While it may seem like the ideal work environment, it is far from that. I was required to be at the school from 7:45-3:45 but most days I was there until 4:30 or 5 trying to get ready for the next day. But your day was not over then--you still had to grade homework and tests that needed to be returned. While the parents may not be there every day, all day, they can make your life a pain very easily. Also, your success is not dependent on you alone, your success is dependent on how well a student wants to do on state testing. And you are also at work for many more days that the students are. At least 2 weeks before school starts, many days that the students are out, you are still working.As far as pay, my first year (05-06) I was paid right at $30k (South Texas). The next year I was bumped to 35k but that was because the district adjusted their salary scale. Many school districts will top you out at 50-60k with 25-30 years. If you get a masters, then the pay will be slightly higher but not that much. You also are salaried so you don't get overtime. The pay is tied to cost of living so teachers in California will be paid at higher levels than say rural Texas.One of the reasons I'm considering nursing is because you can work 3 12-hour shifts and you're done. You don't bring your work home with you.

My mom is a special ed teacher in Louisiana and makes about $60k w/ a Masters degree & 30+ years teaching experience. Nurses' salaries vary here but according to salary.com I think the median is about $56k for a staff nurse. I know a teacher who left healthcare to become a teacher and I know nurses who are trying to get out of their field as well. I don't think either of those professions are "cush" jobs. My mom is the only special ed teacher in her school and is inundated with many different grade level children w/ a variety of problems. She is counting down the hours til her summer "break" where she will have to attend clinics, meetings, etc. She is also counting down the years to retirement. I will say that she came back to Louisiana to be with family after hurricane Katrina. She was previously in Alpharetta, GA, teaching at a private special ed school where she was making about $60k but LOVED her job. I guess happiness depends as much on the work environment as it does on the actual job. Salaries for teacher depend on education+years of exp (here in Louisiana).

no one yet has mentioned the huge pay increase getting a master in nursing. it appears yo get around $60-70k as a masters lvl teacher. a NP or CRNA will be in the $90-180k range and can be attained within 3-4 years of starting out once you get your RN. advantage nursing! also i have a friend working float pool making just over $80k with only his RN (has benefits through his wife).

Quote from lindarnThat is the reason the a nurse with a BSN should make more than a nurse with an Associates Degree or a Diploma. It boggles the mind that nurses are stupid enough to go along with the hospital propaganda of, "WEEELLL, you all do the same job, so why should the nurse with the BSN make more money"? It is the same game, divide and conquer. It still works. JMHO and my NY $0.02.Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRNSpokane, Washington

I think it all truly depends on where you live. In my district, teachers are paid VERY well and have great benefits; plus, their incomes increase at least 5-7% per year no matter what - sometimes even more. As far as their daily schedules, in my district they typically get 2 free periods/day plus their lunch break - not a bad deal. I can't recall the last time I got more than a cost of living raise or had a lunch break while working 12 straight hours. I guess unions really can help make a difference.Then again, there is another district about 10 miles from here that doesn't even come close to paying its teachers what ours does - it's ridiculous.

i taught high school for several years, now i'm changing careers to nursing. wanted to dispel the misconceptions of you post. "that may be true, but teachers have far better benefits than nurses do, have pensions that they can actually live/retire, on"depends on the local school district. some offer good retirement plan, some don't. "control over their class sizes"class sizes are mandated based on state and local laws. teacher have absolutely no control over this. unfortunately similar to nursing, the pressure is to increase not decrease sizes. "a union that actually sticks up for them with adminstration."again depends on the state, and local chapters. i've been told unions have little to no power in the south. "you don't see teachers having to deal with parents insisting on staying in their child's classroom for the entire school day, and trying to control/interfere in the classroom dynamics on a daily basis. i am not saying that parents cannot be pia's it is just that teachers have the conrol to prevent this from becoming out of control the way it has in hospitals."the school board and parents have much influence, especially in small school districts."nurses wish we had what teachers have." you can get certification to teach high school nursing. but be careful what you wish for!