Ibrahim Gardner
Student teaching, also known as clinical practice, is a requirement for aspiring teachers to obtain their teaching certification. In the past, student teachers were often not paid for their work, leading to financial stress and difficulties in completing their education. However, as states face teacher shortages, there is a growing movement to provide stipends or salaries to student teachers. As of 2025, at least seven states have implemented student-teacher stipend programs, recognizing the importance of supporting future educators. While there is some debate about the effectiveness of performance-based pay for teachers, it is clear that providing financial support to student teachers can help remove barriers to entering the profession and ensure a diverse and qualified teaching workforce.
Can teachers pay students?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Student teachers getting paid | In the past, most student teachers didn't get paid. However, as states face teacher shortages, legislatures are passing bills to fund stipends for qualifying student teachers. |
| Student teachers' financial stress | Student teachers are under financial stress as they have to do the work of a full-time educator without pay. |
| Student teachers' salary | Colorado offers eligible students $11,000 for a 16-week residency or $22,000 for a 32-week residency student teaching. Illinois is considering a bill that would give student teachers a stipend of up to $10,000. Kentucky gives student teachers salaries of up to $5,000. Maryland gives student teachers stipends of up to $20,000 for their 10-month educator internships. |
| Teachers' salary | Teachers are paid less than comparable workers with similar education levels. Teachers work 10 more hours per week than comparable professionals and report more frequent job-related stress and symptoms of depression. Teachers requested a 31% raise from a median salary of $65,000 to $85,000. |
| Teachers' retirement | Most states require teachers to pay a portion of their salary into the pension system. The retirement age is usually based on a combination of age and years of service. |
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What You'll Learn
Student teachers often work without pay
The financial burden of student teaching can be a barrier for aspiring educators, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and it may deter talented individuals from pursuing a career in teaching. This is problematic given the current teacher shortages and the need for more diverse teacher workforces to improve academic outcomes for students. Some universities and school districts have recognized this issue and are taking steps to address it. For instance, Texas State University in San Marcos awarded $20,000 to a group of education majors, and some schools in California pay their teachers-in-training through grants and college partnerships, which has improved teacher retention rates.
While there are isolated efforts to support student teachers financially, broader systemic change is needed. Paying student teachers would not only attract more people to the profession but also enable aspiring educators to focus on their training and gain the skills necessary to become effective teachers. As Blake West, a senior policy analyst with the NEA's Center for Professional Excellence and Student Learning, states, "Candidates experience greater success when they receive sufficient financial support to allow them to focus on their student teaching."
Student teachers play a crucial role in the education system, and it is only fair that they receive fair compensation for their work. By addressing this issue, we can remove financial barriers, foster a more diverse teaching profession, and ultimately improve the quality of education for students.
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Student teachers face financial stress
Student teachers often face financial stress due to a combination of factors, including low salaries, rising living costs, student loans, and unexpected expenses. Firstly, stagnant or low salaries in the teaching profession are a significant contributor to financial stress. Teachers' wages lag behind the typical income for other occupations requiring similar educational qualifications. For example, a Stanford-led study found that teachers in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) experienced greater economic stress than U.S. workers, despite earning above the national average. This disparity is more pronounced in cities with high living costs, such as San Francisco, New York, and Chicago, where teachers struggle to cover monthly housing expenses.
Additionally, student loan debt is a substantial burden for many educators, with a quarter of teachers carrying more than $40,000 in federal student loan debt. The pressure of repaying these loans, often on lower salaries, can lead to increased financial stress and even contribute to the high turnover rate among teachers. Furthermore, rising living costs, including surging health insurance premiums, add to the financial strain. Nearly half a million teachers lack health insurance due to its increasing affordability, further compounding their financial challenges.
Unexpected expenses, such as medical bills or childcare fees, can also push teachers into greater economic stress. Younger teachers, in particular, tend to express higher levels of economic anxiety due to lower salaries, higher housing costs, and a greater likelihood of renting. The impact of financial stress on teachers goes beyond their personal finances, as it has been linked to measures of job performance and attendance, which can have significant consequences for the students they teach.
To address these issues, a multi-faceted approach is necessary, including boosting salaries, providing help with finance management and student loans, improving housing assistance programs, and assisting with childcare expenses. Financial wellness programs can also play a crucial role in helping teachers manage their finances through budgeting tools and resources. By addressing these financial stressors, educators can experience improved mental health and enhanced job performance.
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Some states offer student-teacher stipends
Student teachers are often required to do the work of a full-time educator without pay. This has led to aspiring educators organizing to end unpaid student teaching placements and pushing for the passage of laws that would guarantee funding for colleges to pay student teachers.
In response to these efforts and the ongoing teacher shortage crisis, some states have started offering student-teacher stipends. At least seven states have student-teacher stipend programs in place. Maryland was one of the first states to pass legislation creating a student-teacher stipend program, awarding eligible students a $20,000 annual stipend over 10 months. New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kentucky have also implemented student-teacher stipend programs, with Illinois currently working on passing similar legislation.
The eligibility requirements and stipend amounts vary between states. For example, New Jersey offers a $3,000 stipend during clinical placement, while Pennsylvania provides stipends of up to $15,000 for academic and living expenses. Colorado offers eligible students $11,000 for a 16-week residency or $22,000 for a 32-week residency. To qualify for the Colorado program, participants must be within 250% of Pell eligibility.
These student-teacher stipend programs aim to support aspiring educators financially and encourage them to stay in-state as full-time educators once they complete their degrees.
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Student-teacher pay varies by state
Student-teacher pay varies across the United States, and there are efforts to standardise and increase pay for student teachers. Student teachers are often required to do the work of full-time educators without pay, causing financial stress and deterring aspiring teachers from disadvantaged backgrounds from entering the profession.
In Maryland, student teachers are required to teach for 120 days before earning certification, increasing to 180 days by 2024. Student teachers in Maryland are organising to pass legislation guaranteeing funding to pay student teachers. In addition, some universities offer stipends through teacher residency programs.
The National Education Association (NEA) reports that teacher salaries continue to lag behind inflation, with the average teacher making 5% less than they did a decade ago. The NEA's data shows that the average teacher salary in the U.S. ranges from $47,162 in Mississippi to $92,222 in New York. The NEA also reports that states with collective bargaining agreements have higher teacher salaries, with teachers earning 24% more on average.
Despite record-level salary increases in some states, average teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation. The largest one-year increases in teacher pay were in Oklahoma (10.5%), Idaho (9.1%), and Utah (8.9%). However, these states also had the lowest per-student expenditures. In contrast, states like California, New York, and Massachusetts have the highest average teacher salaries.
The number of students enrolled per teacher also varies by state, with Nevada, Arizona, and Utah having the highest student-teacher ratios, while Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York have the lowest.
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Teachers are paid less than comparable workers
The gap is even more pronounced when comparing teachers to other college graduates. Teachers with a bachelor's degree or more earn less than their similarly educated peers in other occupations. For example, in 2019, the average earnings for elementary and middle school teachers with a bachelor's degree or higher who worked full-time, year-round were $53,800, while biological scientists with the same level of education earned $69,880. High school teachers' median earnings were $57,033, while accountants and auditors, who have a lower percentage of advanced degrees, earned $84,050.
The wage penalty for male teachers compared to other male college graduates was a record 35.2% in 2021. This may contribute to the low number of men in the profession, as only 23.5% of teachers are men. The gap is also impacting the attractiveness of the profession, with teacher-preparation enrollment declining steadily by about a third in the past decade due to low pay and a perceived lack of respect. There are currently more than 36,500 teacher vacancies across the United States, and the majority of states are experiencing teacher shortages.
Some cities have attempted to address the issue of low teacher pay by linking extra pay to improved student performance. Denver, for example, approved a pay-for-performance plan where teachers and school employees would earn raises if their students met or exceeded academic targets. Minneapolis has also supplemented teacher salaries by up to $2,000 a year if they complete district-sponsored training courses. While these initiatives aim to boost teacher morale and retention, they also raise questions about the potential impact on student motivation and the overall education system.
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Frequently asked questions
For years, most student teachers didn't get paid. However, as states face teacher shortages, legislatures are passing bills to fund stipends for qualifying student teachers. Some universities also offer stipends through teacher residency programs.
Teachers don't work during the summer, but some school districts give teachers a choice between receiving their annual salary over the 10 months of the school year or spreading paychecks out over a full year.
Yes, teachers who take on extra responsibilities, like serving as a team leader or a coach, can receive an additional stipend, depending on the district.
