Honestly, if you’re in this situation, and you have any interest at all in education, or just think it wouldn’t drive you mad, look into substitute teaching. In my area the only requirement to be a substitute is to have any bachelor’s degree and to be able to pass a very rigorous background check. (Think fingerprinting.) I’m currently exploring a mid-career transition to K12 teaching, and I’m planning on doing a bunch of substitute teaching in the coming school year. Substitutes make about $260/day in my district. Not amazing money, but it still comes to a solid $30/hr or so. And there’s enough demand at least where I’m at that they often have postings go unfilled.
And hell, just getting out of the house and regularly interacting with people will do wonders for your mental health. I wouldn’t recommend substitute teaching as a permanent career. But for someone in transition or trying to get started, it’s a great option. It’s a very useful way of getting past the trap of “I need experience to get the job, but I need the job to get experience.” At least in my area, if you’ve got a bachelor’s and a clean criminal record, you can become a substitute.
In my area, the average monthly rent for a two bedroom apartment is $1500/month, or $18,000 per year. If you maxed out substitute teaching, teaching every day you could? That would bring in about $45k/year. And the job comes with no health insurance, retirement, or other benefits. On days you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Full time teaching positions do have benefits and pay better, but those require more extensive licensing.
You could earn a subsistence living substituting where I’m located, especially if you got roommates. But it’s not a long-term viable career if you want to have any hope of home ownership, retirement, etc. A great option for those in transition, but not a career.
It’s a maximum $45k/year job that offers no health insurance, retirement, or paid leave. Sure it’s $260 per day, but that is only for the school days that you work. Considering the number of days in the school year, and the reality that you won’t be able to find a position every day? If you max it out and sub as much as you can, you’re talking about $45k/year with zero benefits.
Not a bad gig if you’re on your parent’s or spouse’s health insurance. But if you try and work that your whole career, you can forget about ever being a home owner or retiring. Starter homes here go for $400k.
Great option for those in transition. But there’s a reason I call it decent, but hardly amazing.
Looking into it, substitute teachers in my area make from 40-50k on average, so really not far off. Considering many jobs in my area already don’t provide health insurance, it’s really not the worst option for people specifically in my area. I’m sure this is by far the exception of course, just thought it was interesting.
Honestly, if you’re in this situation, and you have any interest at all in education, or just think it wouldn’t drive you mad, look into substitute teaching. In my area the only requirement to be a substitute is to have any bachelor’s degree and to be able to pass a very rigorous background check. (Think fingerprinting.) I’m currently exploring a mid-career transition to K12 teaching, and I’m planning on doing a bunch of substitute teaching in the coming school year. Substitutes make about $260/day in my district. Not amazing money, but it still comes to a solid $30/hr or so. And there’s enough demand at least where I’m at that they often have postings go unfilled.
And hell, just getting out of the house and regularly interacting with people will do wonders for your mental health. I wouldn’t recommend substitute teaching as a permanent career. But for someone in transition or trying to get started, it’s a great option. It’s a very useful way of getting past the trap of “I need experience to get the job, but I need the job to get experience.” At least in my area, if you’ve got a bachelor’s and a clean criminal record, you can become a substitute.
If I wanted good advice I’d go see a shrink, not a green text forum. Nerd. /s
Greentexts are a lot cheaper though. Kinda like self medicating with alcohol.
Yeah! Drinky-drinky no thinky! Just like dad taught me.
$260 a day is quite decent
In my area, the average monthly rent for a two bedroom apartment is $1500/month, or $18,000 per year. If you maxed out substitute teaching, teaching every day you could? That would bring in about $45k/year. And the job comes with no health insurance, retirement, or other benefits. On days you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Full time teaching positions do have benefits and pay better, but those require more extensive licensing.
You could earn a subsistence living substituting where I’m located, especially if you got roommates. But it’s not a long-term viable career if you want to have any hope of home ownership, retirement, etc. A great option for those in transition, but not a career.
I was going to say lol, that’s double the average wage in my city
It’s a maximum $45k/year job that offers no health insurance, retirement, or paid leave. Sure it’s $260 per day, but that is only for the school days that you work. Considering the number of days in the school year, and the reality that you won’t be able to find a position every day? If you max it out and sub as much as you can, you’re talking about $45k/year with zero benefits.
Not a bad gig if you’re on your parent’s or spouse’s health insurance. But if you try and work that your whole career, you can forget about ever being a home owner or retiring. Starter homes here go for $400k.
Great option for those in transition. But there’s a reason I call it decent, but hardly amazing.
Still not awful for my area, with a median income of 47k. But to be fair my area is poor as shit.
And I imagine that subs in your area probably get paid proportionally less. Though maybe not.
Looking into it, substitute teachers in my area make from 40-50k on average, so really not far off. Considering many jobs in my area already don’t provide health insurance, it’s really not the worst option for people specifically in my area. I’m sure this is by far the exception of course, just thought it was interesting.
Although TBF it probably isn’t an every day kind of thing.