Raise Teachers Annual Income (Constructing Arguments Draft 2)

Guides class in lecture

In order to ensure a stable and prosperous life for generations to come, we first have to ensure that the education systems are being conducted in the most effective way possible. Besides, our society is nothing without good education and well-equipped teachers to teach our students of the future. Teachers/professors should receive higher wages for their services, because they are the torchbearers of our futures. The BLS reports that the median annual salary for high school teachers was $55,050 in 2012. The best-paid 10 percent in the field made approximately $85,690, while the bottom 10 percent made $36,930. This median annual salary compared to those of other major careers, such as doctors, lawyers, dentists, and pilots is incomparable. According to Salary.com, the average annual salary for a practicing physician in America is about $184,794. The average annual salary for a practicing attorney in America is about $82,254.

Teacher answers student question

The average annual salary for a practicing dentist in America is $151,377. The average annual salary for a captain/pilot in America $122,161. The difference between the lowest annual salary income of the major careers listed (lawyer) and the median annual salary for high school teachers is about $27,204. There’s a financial income gap of nearly $30,000 when comparing the average high school teacher’s income and the average major career’s annual income. This proves that being a high school teacher is not valued as highly as being any of those careers listed in America’s society. Since the median annual income gap between careers is so large, it makes for people with potential to be better teachers/professors to be attracted to the careers with higher wages. Let’s be honest, who would want to settle for being a teacher/instructor in America when the median annual income for a high-school teacher is 30 grand less than that of a lawyer? Although, the work put forth in the field is about the same as the higher paying careers, the pay just isn’t directly aligned. Some may argue that the reasoning for the annual income of teachers/instructors being so low as opposed to the incomes of the careers listed is because these careers are government funded jobs. Although, this may be true, who’s to say that this isn’t due to poor tax distribution amongst the government?

 

Citations:

1.      "High School Teacher: Salary." High School Teacher Salary Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.