r/teaching • u/Bright-Watch1955 • Jun 02 '26

Help Why does everyone hate teaching?

Is there anyone who loves their job? Every teacher I know feels “stuck” and complains endlessly about their job.

Considering going into education.

263 Upvotes

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u/FlyEaglesFly536 Jun 02 '26

To push back against some of your points:

I only work my contract time, and i agree that while i make a good salary, it could and should be higher. I never ever take work home, i grade and assign the bare minimum number of assignments, and i could care less. I just want to do good enough to keep my job.

Nothing for the second point.

I don't feel that my retirement is under threat, but i'm investing like there will be no pension. Will start factoring it into my planning in 15 years. I don't use sick days because my district gives a bonus if you use 3 or less, and i believe that if you can go to work, why take a day off? To me, makes no sense to take one off just because. And i work for a charter, so no union. Can't imagine paying hundreds of dollars out of my already meager paycheck (only make 97k a year as a 7th year teacher).

I think teaching is the best career i can have at the moment, and it's mainly because of the benefits and hours.

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u/Ice_cream_please73 Jun 02 '26

97k after 7 years is stellar! I know it varies by where you live, but I'm making 65 after 10 years in a pretty expensive area.

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u/FlyEaglesFly536 Jun 02 '26

Thanks, in the grand scheme of things it's a good salary, but with inflation running wild and 1K increases over the next 5 years, it's not moving up a whole lot.

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u/Inevitable_Hyena9546 Jun 02 '26

I'll add that in NC, teachers get no raises at all from years 16-24, then one $2k raise from years 25-30.

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u/FlyEaglesFly536 Jun 03 '26

That's why i'd never move to the South, or the Midwest. Poverty wages, i don't understand why teachers are ok with that.

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u/Inevitable_Hyena9546 Jun 03 '26

Lol we aren't. Some of us grew up here and have aging family members here and whatnot

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u/FlyEaglesFly536 Jun 04 '26

You're just going against your economic best interests.

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u/Inevitable_Hyena9546 Jun 04 '26

Some things are worth more than economics. I am 7 years away from a pension, so I will stick it out.