teaching in new york

What New York State Has to Offer

Did You Know That . . .

• New York State ranks #3 among the states with an average teacher salary of $55,181, up 4.1 percent from 2002-2003.
   
• New York ranks 4th in the nation for average beginning teacher salary, at $36,400, an increase of 3.1 percent from 2002-03.
   
• New York is one of only 22 states where the increase in average teacher salary has kept pace with the national rate of inflation.
   
• New York State compares favorably with other states in average teacher salaries (selected comparisons below).
  
  

  New Jersey	$56,444
  Connecticut	$56,444
  California	$55,181
  New York	$53,663
  Massachusetts	$52,274
  North Carolina	$43,211
  Texas	$40,476

Note: Salary data for 2003-04, excerpted from the AFT Survey and Analysis of Teacher Salary Trends, 2004

New York is a great place to teach. Not only do our schools offer competitive compensation for teachers, New York offers the opportunity to be a part of a reformed and revitalized educational system. Recently revamped teacher preparation programs now align with K-12 student learning standards. All districts now offer professional development programs and mentoring support for new teachers.
New York has more than 3 million students in over 4,000 schools. With large and small cities, rural and suburban districts, New York offers diverse opportunities to teachers.
 

Regional Information

• Capital Region
• Central New York Region
• Finger Lakes Region
• Long Island Region
• Mid-Hudson Region
• Mohawk Valley Region
• New York City Region
• North Country Region
• Southern Tier Region
• Western New York Region

Teacher Support and Recognition

New York offers State funding to districts under the Teachers of Tomorrow Program to help them recruit and support teachers in high need schools and subject shortage areas.

Several State-funded programs support and recognize excellence in teaching (dependent upon annual legislative appropriation):

• NYS Mentor Teacher Internship Program
  Grants for school mentoring programs
   

• NYS Teacher Resource and Computer Training Centers
  Grants to schools for teacher-directed professional development centers
   

• Albert Shanker Grant Program
  Fee subsidies to teachers seeking certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
   

• Teacher Opportunity Corps
  Grants to colleges to attract underrepresented and economically disadvantaged persons to teaching; provides special preparation to teach at-risk K-12 students

New York State also participates in the following federal programs:

• Teacher of the Year Program
• Albert Shanker Grant and Candidate Fee Subsidy Program
• Troops to Teachers Program

Teacher Preparation Programs

New York has over a hundred teacher preparation institutions that offer a wide range of programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Alternative preparation programs aimed at career changers are offered cooperatively by school districts and colleges. To learn more, go to Which Pathway is Right for Me?.