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Login Create AccountArt educators work hard. Imagine a list of everything you do in one single teaching day. It is almost impossible! We are constantly on the move. We plan, advocate, learn, connect, and help our students. This is wonderful, and you should do some of that for yourself! You can set goals for your classroom and, simultaneously, your career.
Students start out with all sorts of reasons to pursue a higher degree: to be a better teacher, to prove to yourself and family that they can do it, and to gain recognition and esteem from administration and colleagues. More often than not, the biggest motivator for students is salary advancement. Art teachers love their work, but they want to and deserve to earn more. In fact, the majority of degree-seeking students at AOEU said their primary motivation for pursuing a master’s degree is to move up the salary scale. So, if you’re looking to earn more, you are in good company!
It can be a difficult choice to invest in yourself and your education. Where will you find the time? How can you make room in your budget? Is it really worth the financial investment? Truthfully, you won’t know until you sit down and crunch some numbers.
Look over your teaching contract or your district’s collective bargaining agreement. If you don’t have a copy, ask your union representative or a building administrator. Your human resources office will also have a copy.
Begin by looking over the whole schedule to understand what teachers are making at different points in their careers. If you want to compare your school’s salary scale to other schools, do a quick Google search. There are lots of examples online.
Salary advancement is determined at the district level, and every salary schedule is different. Depending on how complex your district’s schedule is, there may be two ways to move: vertical and horizontal.
Everybody loves math! No? It’s ok – these calculations aren’t too hard. Sit down with your salary scale and a calculator.
Return on Investment Calculator
Breaking even is all about getting to net 0. When you invest in anything, you want it to pay for itself. Some things pay for themselves in convenience (like a new car) or satisfaction (like a weekend getaway). But really good investments pay for themselves in actual money.
In the “Breaking Even” calculator, we’ll look at the investment to change lanes (lateral movement), determine what you currently earn, how long it will take you to earn the credits to change lanes, the investment in the lane change, and your future salary.
This is the step where you know your worth! An investment in a master’s degree is significant. However, the dividends it pays for future years might make it your best investment yet. Similar to what we hope happens when we invest in a home, it should accrue value.
In the “Return on Your Investment” calculator, we’ll look at how much money this degree will be earning you. Determine what you currently earn and how much longer you’ll be teaching. A little bit of multiplication, and you’ll see the return on your investment.
The ROI calculator doesn’t take into account your subsequent steps, thus your ROI is likely even more than the number you’ve calculated!
Also, many schools offer a pension. Your pension is usually determined by your salary during your last year or years of teaching. Lane change is the best way to increase your earnings after retirement, too!
While most schools offer salary advancement, others don’t. Should you still pursue a master’s degree or continue your education?
If you’re thinking about earning your master’s degree or need some help understanding how you can leverage your salary schedule, connect with our admissions team. We love math, and we want to help you!
Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.