TheApple

 I have been in the health care field for several years and I am considering Nursing school. But the pre-reqs combined with over all time just for a Associates degree is almost as long as getting a BA. I have always wanted to teach my mother is a teacher and she has become very unhappy in the field. The kids and the no child left behind has really hindered any creativity in the classroom she says? I want to teach Social Science to Middle or  maybe even High school students will this be the same I am a Artist Intellectual I want to be creative and dig deep into subjects I always hear teacher complain that you teach by the test everything is geared to make sure the kids pass a test no more no less and they complain of it being dry and boring and they all seem to want out. I have had many say I would not become a Teacher if I were you, The pay is Awful and you have no freedom in what you teach. Now the Pay is another concern. What is the Start Salary for a new teacher? Im 33 have two kids to care for I know as a Nurse I would make $22hr. But the work is very stressful and the hours are all over the place. I know my heart is in teaching but I have a 10 year old and two year old who are depending on me, I live in Webster Groves Missouri and they living cost here is pretty high compared to surrounding areas the average is around $80,000 a year.

  I told this to a friend she said I should go for it I would be great. I could suppliment my income with coaching, summer school and getting a masters degree will help tremendously and she even encouraged me to look into a Masters degree in Education Leadership and become a principle because they are in demand. I appreciate what she says but I want to get opinions of others in the field. She is a great teacher snad has been teaching for years. I never ask people what they make but she seems to be doing well. She is a single mom and lives comfortable not like the others told me, that I will struggle and make only half!@#% of what a nurse makes? Please clear the air for me this is really hindering me from pursuing the profession but I know I love it. Again It's not just about following my passion I have a family to take care of. Thank You!!!

johnslat says ...

 According to this site, the average salary for an RN in Missouri is $75,000.

http://www.indeed.com/salary/q-Nurse-RN-l-Missouri.html       

The average salary for a teacher with an MA in Missouri (ranked 44th in the nation for teacher salaries) is $35,650

http://www.uark.edu/ua/der/EWPA/Research/Teacher_Quality/1778.html

You don't have to be a math major to see the disparity.

 

http://www.uark.edu/ua/der/EWPA/Research/Teacher_Quality/1778.html

Nurse RN in Missouri

$75,000 

 

 This is WILD. I cannot believe Teachers struggle so much.

 

HA HA Funny You mention that because I call it the State of Misery instead of the state of Missouri!...I live very close to ILL and I have heard that they pay the teachers there much better is this so. I could easily drive to ILL or better yet! MOVE to Illinois. Missouri has a lot of issues. As a Nurse Iwould start 19.50- 20.00 an hour where I work currently and we pay our Nurses the highest wages in the area. our Nurse Practioners make around 75,000 a year salaried at our hospitals BUT they can work many many hours longer than what they earned being salaried isn't so great! What are other ways a Teacher o make more money any ideas!

I feel your pain...I am having the exact same problem.

With teaching, the pay is low, but the vacation is generous...

With nursing, the pay is high, but you only have 2 weeks off a year to start...

Time off is more important than money to me,...BUT...I could work part-time as a nurse and make as much as I could full time as a teacher!!

I can see where there could be job satisfaction and intrinsic value in both career areas.

**Anyone have anything else to consider? I would rather finish my degree (I am 46 & going back to school while my kids are in high-school) in teaching, but the nursing option is tempting.

Thanks in advance for your help and feedback.

~Liz

My X worked at one of the best hospitals in the area. I can tell you they have alot of time to horse around. When you push a call bell, someone should be there in less than 5 minutes!!  Alot of times, they just all sit around waiting for someone else to respond. Helath care is a joke from top to bottom.

It sickens me to see what a huge pay difference there is between nurses and teachers. Teachers are an investment in our future and for what we pay for health care we get very little return on that investment.

Look at both. If you think you can be happy as a nurse, follow the money.  If you dont think you want to DO the job of a nurse, be a teacher and be happy. It almost sounds as if neither is the choice judging by how you write. Good Luck.