Show of Hands

It is inappropriate to extrapolate the same earnings potential experienced during the 10 months to the 2 unpaid months as unless the teacher gets a second job, that additional earning potential will never be realized.

I agree with your statement. But you have to admit that using the $34,000 to compare it to other occupations is misleading.

Not really. The job pays 34, often spread over 12 months.

But it's in exchange for ten months of work, rather than twelve.

The monthly compensation is $3,388, which over twelve months is $40,656.

It's not about how it's paid out; it's about how it's earned.

So if I own a fishing boat and earn 50k in January and don't fish the rest of the year, a comparable job wage would 600k a year? No. The job is built around a 1 month season. The teaching job is a ten month season.

If you make $50,000 in a month, it would be ridiculous to compare that to someone making $50,000/year working all year.

I'm not. I'm comparing someone who's profession is so regulated that they can only work for one month out of the year to someone who is unregulated working 12 months. They both make 50k a year.

Yes, they both make $50,000/year if the fisherman doesn't work for the rest of the year. But it would be horribly misleading to compare the two against one another.

He can't fish the rest of the year because it's illegal. Just like the teacher can't teach under the same employment contract for the remaining to months.

It's understood that teachers get summers off, so no I don't think it's misleading.

It doesn't matter why they only work a portion of the year. The fact is that they do.
Someone getting paid $34,000 for ten months of work is not the equivalent of someone getting paid $34,000 for a full year of work.

I don't think we are going to agree. They make the same annual pay, they are reasonably comparable to IMO.

Well, I do both of those things, so...

So it's just a coincidence.

Do you have a thing against teachers, Because a salesman working on commissions only would never fit into the example you've described here.

No, my wife will be a teacher after she finishes grad school this year.

I just think it's misleading to use the $34,000 number and call it "low pay" when $40,000 would be the appropriate number to compare it against others.

She can summer vacation in AK and make big bucks in a cannery :)

I think she'll be happy staying home, haha. She hates the cold.

Agreed. The $34,880 is how much you actually get, but the $40,656 is more accurate when being compared with other jobs/salaries.

Why? Is the teaching mowing lawns over the summer?

Frustrating, isn't it? :P

Sometimes, my friend.