Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: Salary Quest: Re: Postition Available: Director ofInstructionalLaboratories



For reference...

I live in a small community in Ohio. The cost of living here would
certainly be somewhat less than the cost of living in Oxford, Ohio where
Miami University is located.

Public school teachers around here start at about $25,000 with BA/BS and no
experience. In about 15 years and completion of a masters degree they earn
around $45,000.

It is generally accept that a teacher's salary is not adequate if it is the
sole source of income. Indeed, if you have a couple kids and only one
salary (at teacher's pay) you qualify for federally subsidized school
lunches for your children. Typical house prices start at $80,000 for
something small that needs some work, to $150,000 for something large enough
for a family and in reasonably good shape. Unless you have substantial down
payment available you are not going to get a loan to buy a house on a
teacher's salary. Food, clothing, utilities, automobiles cost the same here
as anyplace else.

It is not uncommon to have two teachers in a family so the combined income
is $50,000 to $90,000 depending on years of service. Even people at the low
end of this range have a hard time making ends meet, and 50 is a lot more
than 30. People near $90,000 can be pretty comfortable if they don't have
expensive tastes leading to an expensive lifestyle.

Therefore, a position paying $30,000 to $35,000 in Ohio is not going to be a
good deal if you have a family to support and this is your only source of
income. This money might look good to someone currently unemployed. But,
even though the cost of living in Ohio is less than California or New York,
it ain't that low. $30,000 is not enough unless your spouse also gets a
job.

Sad thing is, even though $30,000 isn't enough, a lot of people in Ohio are
trying to live on less.


Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D. Phone/voice-mail: 419-358-3270
Professor of Chemistry & Physics FAX: 419-358-3323
Chairman, Science Department E-Mail edmiston@bluffton.edu
Bluffton College
280 West College Avenue
Bluffton, OH 45817