new teacher articles

How much will I earn?

Aug 7, 2008 11:04 AM

Although money isn’t usually the main reason people go into teaching, the UFT takes the bread-and-butter issue of wages very seriously. Over the years, the union has had considerable success in raising salaries to professional levels, with higher earnings for newcomers and a top salary that reached over $100,000 in May 2008.

As a first-year teacher in the New York City public schools, your gross earnings will be at least $45,530 per year or $1,897.08 for each paycheck during September. (You will receive your paycheck semi-monthly at school. If you opt for direct deposit of your paycheck, you will receive a pay stub at your school.)

And that’s just for starters. You could earn more than that basic starting salary because the UFT negotiated a number of different ways to boost the paychecks of new teachers and put more money in your pocket.

For example, you can earn thousands of dollars more right from the start if you have taken enough college or graduate credits to qualify for a differential. Or you can increase your income if you qualify for a higher salary step based on eligible prior teaching-related work experience you have had.

To check what your earning potential is — now and in the future — consult the UFT salary schedule. Then plan to take advantage of every opportunity to increase your earnings.