If you are interested in working as a teacher in Nebraska, this article has everything you need to know about teacher salary in Nebraska. Teaching is an exciting field for those who wish to impart knowledge and wisdom. There are also various teaching roles, depending on which level of education you wish to work in, which makes teaching an exciting career.
This state is an excellent place to work as a teacher. The average teacher salary in Nebraska is close to the national average and job requirements are straightforward. In this guide, we will closely examine questions like what is the average teacher salary and what are the job requirements to become a teacher in Nebraska. Furthermore, we look at learning options such as online teaching degrees.
What Is the Average Teacher Salary in Nebraska?
The average teacher salary in Nebraska is $54,470, according to Teach.org. A qualified teacher candidate is someone who has achieved at least an undergraduate degree in education and has passed teaching certification tests. A school may offer an additional salary to those who chair school community projects, development programs, and extracurricular activities.
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 an NCES report. Cost of living may affect rates in certain areas, and there may be an offset. The average base salary includes all grade levels and specialties with a standard teaching license. In Nebraska, specialized school teachers, such as technical education and special education teachers, may make more than the national average annual wage.
Average Teacher Salary in Nebraska: K—12
| Level | Number Employed in Nebraska | Average Salary in Nebraska | Average Salary in the United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | 970 | $64,630 | $60,900 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 9,860 | $61,510 | $61,400 |
| Middle School Teachers | 3,510 | $64,030 | $61,320 |
| High School Teachers | 6,890 | $63,370 | $61,820 |
Basic Requirements to Become a Teacher in Nebraska: K—12
- Undergraduate Degree. According to the teacher job description, teachers must have a bachelor’s degree in teaching. A qualified teaching applicant must complete a program for teaching a specific grade level or subject for middle school or higher. Teachers must also qualify for an endorsement in special education and human relations.
- Teacher Education Program. Nebraska requires teachers to complete a teacher certification class before taking the academic skill test. The Nebraska Department of Education certification instructional program can be taken online or in person. These courses include educational skills and classroom management skills.
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Test. Additional licensure requirements require you to take the Praxis Core Academic Skills Test. There are two tests and you need to have good results in both. One covers basic teacher skills and the other is for subject endorsement. Career advancement or specialization may require further testing.
How to Become a Kindergarten Teacher in Nebraska
In Nebraska, you can teach Kindergarten with either a certification in early childhood education or elementary school. For either, you first need to obtain a bachelor’s degree in education and pass the CORE skill level test, as well as the young children subject test or the elementary education test.
How to Become an Elementary School Teacher in Nebraska
Like a Kindergarten teacher, elementary school teachers must have a certification in elementary school education. This certification allows you to teach grades K-6 or in a K-5 elementary school. You need a bachelor’s degree, a completed teaching course, and the core tests in elementary education and basic skills for a sport in the applicant pool.
If you’re teaching 1st grade or 2nd grade, you may need a different set of skills than when teaching 4th grade. Your teaching style and skills should reflect the age group you work with, and career development programs can help to build age-specific teaching skills.
How to Become a Middle School Teacher in Nebraska
To become a middle teacher in Nebraska you must at least have an in-person or online certification for elementary education. However, middle school teachers for students in grades seven and eight need to have a certification for secondary education with a subject area.
How to Become a High School Teacher in Nebraska
In Nebraska, qualified candidates for grade 9-12 high school teachers need a bachelor’s degree with at least 30 semester hours in their chosen subject area. For example, you may need hours in English, 7th-grade math, or physical sciences. You must also complete a teacher preparation program and pass the CORE basic skill test and content area certification.
Average Teacher Salary in Nebraska: Other Types of Teachers
| Type | Number Employed in Nebraska | Average Salary in Nebraska | Average Salary in the United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 970 | $42,190 | $30,210 |
| Career and Technical Education Teachers | 450 | $68,630 | $63,130 |
| Adult Basic Education Teachers | 130 | $44,050 | $59,720 |
| Substitute Teachers | 3,560 | $41,490 | $38,410 |
Requirements to Become a Teacher in Nebraska: Preschool
- Early Childhood Education Degree. Nebraska requires all qualified candidates for public education preschool positions to hold a degree in early childhood education. You can choose to pursue training in Birth to 3 years, PreK to Grade 3, or Birth to Kindergarten. Degrees can be through an online teaching program as well.
- Apply for Provisional Nebraska Teaching Certificate. When you complete your teaching degree, you need to apply for a provisional teaching certificate, which is valid for a year. To qualify, you must have your bachelor’s degree, 50% of your pre-student teaching requirements, and at least 75% of your early childhood education endorsement requirements.
- Apply for Initial Teaching Certificate. Once you’ve completed your teacher training and testing, you can apply for an initial teaching license. You need to provide copies of your transcripts and proof of residency or two sets of fingerprints with your application.
- Advance to Standard Teaching license. The final step is to qualify for a standard teaching license. You must have two years or more of part-time experience using your initial teaching certification. The Nebraska Department of Education issues teaching licenses at all levels.
Requirements to Become a Teacher in Nebraska: Career and Technical Education
- Obtain a Degree or Certification. Most career and technical education teachers focus on subjects not offered by a traditional teaching certificate. Qualified applicants need to start by getting a degree or certification in a specific skill area. This may be a bachelor’s degree or other skill-specific training programs.
- Have Professional Training in Subject. As career and technical teachers are vocational, it is important to have work experience in the area you wish to teach. For example, computer programming teachers should have worked a job in tech.
- Obtain Certificate with Specialized Endorsement. You must still obtain your teaching certificate with endorsements to teach in a Nebraska school. The Nebraska Department of Education certification will carry the area of specialization only and will restrict you to teaching only those classes.
Requirements to Become a Teacher in Nebraska: Adult Basic Education
- Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree. Adult basic education teacher or English as a second language teacher job category requires a bachelor’s degree. Experience working with adult learners is helpful but not always required, as some programs will train you.
- Obtain Certification. Most programs want their adult basic education teachers to have their teaching certificates. If you teach from a public school in Nebraska, you must have your certification plus any applicable endorsements.
- Have certain Innate Qualities. There are certain qualities such as patience and resourcefulness that qualified candidates need to teach adults. Having good communication skills, being informed about mental health, and being sensitive to different cultures are also necessary.
Requirements to Become a Substitute Teacher in Nebraska
- Meet Educational Requirements. If you want to work as a local substitute, you must have at least 60 credit hours in an educator preparation program with the human relations course requirement. For those who want to substitute statewide, Nebraska requires a teaching certificate.
- Pass Criminal Background Check. Before obtaining your certification, you must pass a criminal background check. Qualified candidates must also submit two fingerprint cards when applying for their certificate.
- Work Experience. While some teaching experience is welcome, it is not required for either statewide or local substitute teaching certificates. Each K-12 school may have its own additional requirements for qualified applicants.
Average Teacher Salary in Nebraska: Special Education
| Special Education Level | Number Employed in Nebraska | Average Salary in Nebraska | Average Salary in the United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool | 110 | $56,350 | $61,030 |
| Kindergarten and Elementary | 1,790 | $60,330 | $61,640 |
| Middle School | 630 | $63,950 | $61,820 |
| High School | 960 | $65,700 | $62,120 |
Requirements to Become a Teacher in Nebraska: Special Education
- Get a Degree in Special Education. Special education teachers, especially those in public education, should have a degree in teaching with a specialization in special education. This helps to focus on the core curricular area and grade level you want to teach while focusing on special needs students even in elementary grades.
- Choose a Teacher Prep Program Focusing on Special Education. After obtaining your degree, you must enter a teacher preparation program. Choose one that will focus on your particular area of expertise, for example, secondary special education.
- Special Qualities. Special Education requires a certain type of person to fulfill the needs of the students. Qualified applicants should not only have their certification in special education but also be adaptable, compassionate, have good communication and listening skills, and possess strong assessment skills to support students in class.
Is a Teacher’s Salary in Nebraska Worth My Time and Money?
Yes, a teacher’s salary in Nebraska is worth your time and money. For those who love kids or want to help them learn new things, the Nebraska Department of Education offers close to the national annual salary range for their teachers. As job responsibilities will vary between districts, monthly salaries may vary as well. Nebraska also takes part in student loan forgiveness programs for qualified teacher candidates.
The annual salaries are based on the population of school districts, your level of experience, career goals, academic performance, and level of education. Entry-level salary for teachers is typically about $30,000 per year, whereas a person with a master of education will make a higher median salary than someone with a bachelor’s degree, even if they both work at a K-12 school.
There are also opportunities for career advancement and professional development. For example, qualified candidates with higher degrees, such as a master’s degree or a PhD, can move into a middle school administration or principalship position, or take a position like a school librarian. These positions will have higher pay rates.
Teacher Salary in Nebraska FAQ
Yes, many states, including Nebraska, were experiencing a teacher shortage for the 2021-2022 school year. Because of this, the Nebraska Department of Education is researching issues to issue steps to rectify the situation for the 2022-2023 school year and beyond. There is a relatively healthy job market for K-12 school jobs.
Yes, like all teaching jobs you need a degree to teach physical education. Physical education teachers teach additional subjects besides physical education or coaching a specific sport. Some teach classes like history and would find a bachelor of history beneficial. An associate degree in health or kinesiology and exercise science is also beneficial.
For qualified teaching applicants interested in teaching students in grades 7-12, you must have an endorsement for a specific subject. A specific subject could be secondary science, social science, or mathematics.
Yes, Nebraska allows teachers moving from another state to transfer their license. You must show proof of your degree and completion of teaching preparation classes. Qualified candidates must also submit scores from required examinations and provide two sets of fingerprints for a background check to the Nebraska Department of Education, which issues teaching licenses.
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