It Pays to Teach

In most school districts, you’ll enroll in your school district’s health plan. This typically includes medical, dental, vision and other insurance costs for you and your family. 

Vacation days will depend on your district, but you can expect:

• Spring break
• December holiday break
• National holidays off
• Paid personal & sick days during the school year

You may also get time off during the summer. Teachers use this time to travel, explore professional development, relax or work elsewhere. Some districts offer summer positions for teachers, such as summer school or curriculum development jobs.

Each state handles teacher retirement differently, but in many areas, you’ll contribute a portion of your salary to your state’s retirement system. Your employer will often also make a contribution to the statewide fund. 

Your contributions, your employer’s contributions and the contributions of other employees earn interest over time. Those contributions add up, so you’ll be financially secure when it’s time to retire.  

States also set their own rules about when you can retire. Most require you to reach a certain age and have taught for a certain number of years. Check with your state education agency to learn about your state’s retirement rules for teachers. 

Stepping into a classroom could mean stepping out of debt. Loan forgiveness programs cancel your remaining student loans — meaning you don’t have to pay them back! — in exchange for a commitment to teach for several years.

Check to see if your state offers loan forgiveness options for teachers. Here are a few loan forgiveness programs offered through the federal government: 

Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program: The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program helps public school teachers with federal student loans. Teachers in certain shortage areas, including math, science and special education can receive up to $17,500 in forgiven loans. If you teach a different subject, you can still get up to $5,000! Learn how to qualify. 

Perkins Loan Cancellation: You can get 100 percent of your Perkins loans canceled if you teach for five years! Learn more about Perkins Loan Cancellation.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: If you work full-time in a public service field — like teaching! — for 10 years, you can get your remaining student loans forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Learn more.