If you live in Alabama and are thinking of career options in education, you are probably wondering, what is the average teacher salary in Alabama? According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community, Alabama is a pretty affordable place to live, so for many, the teacher salary in Alabama offers salary satisfaction.
Because of the low living cost, it is no surprise to see that the average teacher salary in Alabama is relatively low compared to other states’ annual salaries. According to NCES, Alabama teachers earn $54,271 in yearly salary. This guide will give you more details about average teacher salaries in Alabama, the requirements to become a teacher in Alabama, and answer further questions about salaries for teachers in Alabama.
What Is the Average Teacher Salary in Alabama?
The typical average teacher salary in Alabama is $54,271, according to NCES. This is considerably low compared to the national average salary for school systems in the United States. This includes elementary, secondary, private, and public school teachers. In the table below, we’ll explore other types of teachers’ salaries in Alabama.
What Is the Average Salary of a Teacher in the United States?
The average teacher salary in the United States is $65,090, according to NCES. This data includes salaries from primary and secondary schools. Many job openings for classroom teachers also come with health insurance and medical services. These salaries will also depend on levels of experience and the type of role you have.
Average Teacher Salary in Alabama: K—12
| Level | Number Employed in Alabama | Average Salary in Alabama | Average Salary in the United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | 640 | $49,100 | $60,900 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 20,620 | $53,110 | $61,400 |
| Middle School Teachers | 11,060 | $54,870 | $61,030 |
| High School Teachers | 13,910 | $54,630 | $61,760 |
Basic Requirements to Become a Teacher in Alabama: K—12
- Have a bachelor’s degree. One of the most common job requirements for becoming a teacher in Alabama is to have a bachelor’s degree in any particular field for teaching with an academic requirement of 32 education credit hours. This will ensure applicants have the critical skills needed to teach.
- Get an Alabama Teacher Certification. These programs are crucial if you want to become a teacher in Alabama and you have to join a training course to obtain certification. Programs include fieldwork and coursework. They will also help you demonstrate your teaching abilities and cover topics like pedagogy and classroom observation.
- Pass Alabama Teachers Tests. To become a teacher in this state, you must pass the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP). Multiple tests measure your math skills, science competencies, and teaching ability. This last asset is evaluated with the Praxis exam.
How to Become a Kindergarten Teacher in Alabama
Just like any other potential teacher in Alabama, you will have to pass all the Alabama teacher preparation and earn the certifications. You must also major in elementary education or hold a similar bachelor’s degree to become a kindergarten teacher in Alabama.
How to Become an Elementary School Teacher in Alabama
To become an elementary teacher in Alabama, you must have a related college degree and earn the Alabama teaching certifications. You must have at least 32 semester credit hours to qualify for becoming an elementary school teacher.
How to Become a Middle School Teacher in Alabama
You must hold an undergraduate degree and go through the Alabama teaching preparation to become a middle school teacher in this state. You must join a teacher prep program from an accredited institution.
How to Become a High School Teacher in Alabama
To become a high school teacher, you should meet the education requirements, which usually consist of having a bachelor’s degree in education and earning an Alabama teacher certification. This could be either the Professional Educator Certificate (Class B) or a Class A certificate. For the latter, you’ll need a master’s degree.
Average Teacher Salary in Alabama: Other Types of Teachers
| Type | Number Employed in Alabama | Average Salary in Alabama | Average Salary in the United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 5,340 | $25,180 | $30210, |
| Career and Technical Education Teachers | 1,910 | $56,260 | $61,160 |
| Adult Basic Education Teachers | 460 | $44,980 | $59,720 |
| Substitute Teachers | 4,720 | $18,840 | $38,410 |
Requirements to Become a Teacher in Alabama: Preschool
- Have a bachelor’s degree. To become a preschool teacher in Alabama, you should have at least an undergraduate major in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
- Pass the background check. All potential teachers must go through a background check for the student’s safety. This will identify any previous illegal activities and red flags.
- Pass the state certification exams. You must pass three certification exams: the Praxis Teaching Reading (5204), the Praxis Early Childhood Education (5025), and edTPA.
Requirements to Become a Teacher in Alabama: Career and Technical Education
- College degree. According to the Education Commission of the States, you must have a college degree to become a CTE professional in Alabama.
- Get experience. Since some certifications require you to have either education or administrative experience, it is better to spend some time in those areas before attempting to take the tests.
- Earn the appropriate certifications. There are multiple certifications to become a CTE in Alabama. These include the Professional Certification Following The Provisional Certificate In A Teaching Field (PCTF), Provisional Certificate In A Career And Technical Teaching Field (PCCT) Approach, and the Higher Education Transitional Certificate (HETC).
Requirements to Become a Teacher in Alabama: Adult Basic Education
- Earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the education field. Adult basic education teachers work in technical institutions such as trade schools or community colleges. They must have either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in an education-related field.
- Get experience. Potential adult basic education teachers must obtain a couple of years of experience in education to learn about the teacher role, understand lesson plans, and prepare to work with the flexible schedule adult learners often have.
- Get certified. The next step would be to get an adult basic education licensure from Alabama state that certifies your ability to work with adult teaching.
Requirements to Become a Substitute Teacher in Alabama
- Get a high school diploma or earn a bachelor’s degree. To become a substitute teacher in Alabama, you don’t necessarily need to have a college degree. Some schools will be ok with you having enough experience and a high school diploma.
- Go through a background check. It is almost mandatory to go through background checks before becoming a substitute teacher in this state for the students’ protection.
- Get a substitute license. To get a substitute license in Alabama, you must get a recommendation from the employing school district.
Average Teacher Salary in Alabama: Special Education
| Special Education Level | Number Employed in Alabama | Average Salary in Alabama | Average Salary in the United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool | 140 | $55,770 | $61,820 |
| Kindergarten and Elementary | 720 | $53,630 | $61,820 |
| Middle School | 550 | $54,970 | $61,820 |
| High School | 450 | $55,140 | $61,820 |
Requirements to Become a Teacher in Alabama: Special Education
- Earn an undergraduate degree. The first step to becoming a special education teacher in Alabama is to earn a bachelor’s degree in education, preferably related to special education. This will aid your professional development.
- Pass the certification exams. You must pass several certification exams such as Praxis Subject Assessment Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, and the edTPA Educative Teacher Performance Assessment.
- Renew your certifications when necessary. You must not forget to renew your certifications every five years. This applies to all teacher jobs within special education.
Is a Teacher’s Salary in Alabama Worth My Time and Money?
Yes, a teacher’s salary in Alabama is worth your time and money. Alabama teachers earn an annual wage of $54,271, which is not significantly high compared to other states like Alaska or California. However, since the cost of living in Alabama is so low, it’ll still be fair compensation. To help with the cost of schooling, you can apply for federal student aid.
Teacher Salary in Alabama FAQ
You can earn over $65,000 in average base salary as a teacher with a master’s degree in Alabama. It will all depend on the institution and your area of study. You can also have other benefits as a teacher in Alabama, such as paid time off, relocation assistance, life insurance, disability insurance, and a retirement plan. Some schools may even offer complete or partial tuition reimbursement.
No, teachers do not get paid over the summer. Unfortunately, holidays or vacations in Alabama are not compensated for. Teachers in Alabama must budget and set aside money for the long summer vacation period.
Alabama teachers get paid $18,71 in hourly salary on average, according to Indeed. However, hourly pay will depend on their career background, previous experience, job responsibilities, and the location of the school they work in.
The average starting salary for a teacher in Alabama is $42,970. However, this figure can increase to over $54,000 per year as you gain experience and knowledge. Students entering the education system can make extra money through tutoring.
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