Archive for the ‘Career’ Category

Skills For Becoming a Court Reporter

Friday, December 26th, 2008

If you’ve ever longed for a career in legal, consider a career as a court reporter. Becoming a Court Reporter requires certain skills and attributes in order to succeed. Although some of these skills can be learned, if you are considering a career in Court Reporting, you should:

• Have strong English skills

• Have the ability to stay focused and concentrate for long periods of time

• Enjoy and be comfortable with technology and have the ability to learn advanced skills

• Have good keyboarding skills

• Have the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

• Be an audio learner – Reporters spend a great deal of time listening

• Be able to tune out background noise and get in your zone

The educational requirements to become a court reporter vary with the specialties and the type of reporting you want to pursue. You can become a novice voice writer within about a year, but a real-time stenotypist requires around three years of training. And the more experience you gain, the higher pay you will make along with working in higher profile court cases.

Court reporter training is offered by, vocational schools, technical schools, and colleges. There are many types and levels of court reporter certification, depending on the specialty chosen.

The National Court Reporters Association or NCRA and other certified programs require students to complete an approved preset curriculum, prior to being eligible to take the certification exam.

To graduate, students typically will need a machine shorthand speed of 225 words per minute or higher. The exam tests written knowledge, speed, and accuracy.

In some states, a state certification is required, which means you will need to take the exam offered by the state. Otherwise, in order to be certified, you need to take the certification exam offered by the NCRA. You should check to see what your state and the Federal Government requires in the line of education and certification for your desired specialty.

In order to maintain the certification, reporters must earn 3.0 continuing education units (CEU) every three years. One CEU equals 10 hours of additional instruction. CEU’s may be lectures, classes, or other educational experiences approved by the NCRA.

Membership with the National Court Reporters Association is an organization every student should consider. They offer an abundance of information to their members and have a reduced fee for students.

Court reporting is an exciting career. You will work alongside attorneys, judges and other legal staff in a courtroom setting. The career opportunities are good and the outlook for a position as a court reporter is growing as legal proceedings are not going to be cut back anytime soon. If you’re interested in working in a legal career, but the thought of years of school to become an attorney sounds like to much to you, then consider a career as a court reporter. You’ll be where the action is at. In addition, the pay is excellent and the opportunities are growing every year.

Do you need statistics on court reporter salaries? Check-out the stats and facts available at http://www.careertoolkits.com ? Learn about court reporting schools.

Why a Real Estate Agent Career is a Good Life Choice

Friday, December 26th, 2008

A real estate career is not only a great career move, but a great life choice. You have the potential to earn great amounts of money through real estate, above and beyond your salary, through commission. You also have the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives when you find them the home they have dreamed of. It is certainly a fantastic feeling making your clients happy whilst getting paid well for it.

Another nice aspect of a job as a realtor is that you can practically set your own hours. You will have clients and will need to work around their schedules, but for the most part you can decide when you want to work. And you get to decide how much you want to work. Of course, the more showings you are willing to go on and the more work you put into marketing yourself, the more you will make. But if you just want to work as a realtor part time, you may be more able to do so then with many other careers.

Most real estate agents work for an agency amongst other agents. Many agencies have targets you must strive to meet, whilst others are more relaxed. It will generally depend on what sort of market you are working in and how high pressure it is there. Every real estate market is different so choosing where to work once you are qualified is an important decision. Do you enjoy the high pressure and fast pace of an inner city real estate agency or would you prefer the slow paced country towns? These are decisions you will need to make when you are ready to seek employment as a real estate agent.

Before you can act as a real estate agent you must become licensed. A university degree is not required for this profession. You can attend college to obtain your real estate agent licence. You must pass the course and all exams to get your license. These courses often take less than two years and can be studied part time. Unlike many career choices, you will not go into work with a huge debt.

Another option for a real estate agent career is to undertake an apprenticeship. Although real estate apprenticeships are not as common as other apprenticeships they do exist in many areas. It is worth asking your local real estate agent if they would consider taking you on as an apprentice. They may appreciate the extra help and you can earn money while you study but more importantly, gain that vital industry experience.

A real estate agent must have excellent communication skills and sales ability. You will be selling people the most expensive item they will ever buy, so making them feel at ease and confident is part of your job. You must also be honest and seek to do the very best by your clients. Honest real estate agents gain an excellent reputation and generally end up earning the most as word of mouth leads them to gain more listings than other agents.

Interested in becoming a real estate agent? Find free, online information covering real estate schools and the incomes for real estate agents. It?s free and online at http://www.careertoolkits.com

Ever Heard of a Volcanologist? (And Other Science Careers)

Friday, December 26th, 2008

If you have decided that you want a career in science but are not sure which field to choose then you should look at all available options to see which most interests you. There are literally hundreds of scientific fields and many of these have a shortage of specialists. With that said, if you can commit yourself to a particular science career then you are likely to have a career for life. Science careers are rewarding and can be well paid.

So what sort of science careers are there? Some to consider include:

- Ecologist: Studies of nature and ecology

- Astronomy: Study of space

- Biologist: Study of living things

- Volcanologist: Study of volcanoes [a branch of geology]

- Engineer: Can take many forms in many different sectors. Generally to do with designing structures

- Science Teacher: Person who teaches science at school, college or university

- Geologist: Study of rocks, minerals and Earth processes

- Computer Scientist: Study advanced computer technology like virtual reality and robots

- Physicist: Study of the forces of the universe

- Chemist: Either a lab technician or a pharmacist

- Zoologist: Study of animals in captivity

- Medicine: Study of human health

- Archaeologist: Study of past civilizations, fossils and other ancient objects

The above are just a few of the hundreds of possible careers in science. Medicine is also considered a science and as such, becoming a doctor also involves studying science, particularly biology and chemistry. The earth sciences like geology, archaeology and volcanology are extremely exciting fields that are always moving forward fast. They can also provide qualified people with the chance to travel to the world to study scenarios the world over.

To become a qualified scientist in any field you must undertake a bachelor’s degree in the field of your choice. Many scientists then choose to take on post graduate study to further their knowledge and to specialize in a sub-niche of their chosen sector of the scientific field. Many opt to undertake a doctorate and become a professor however this is usually only after many years are spent in the field.

There are so many paths and positions that you can work into that it’s impossible to list them all out here. For many scientists, they prefer to work in the corporate environment. The pay is usually better and the jobs are still exciting and full of research and collaboration. Other individuals prefer working in an academic setting. Although becoming a professor is one option in academia, there are many others. You may be eligible to perform research in a lab or other academic position. Many non-profit organizations perform research and hire scientists of various background as do government agencies. So the potentials are limitless.

Whichever science career you choose, make sure it is one you are passionate about and feel you can undertake forever. Because many scientific careers blend into one another, it is possible to change fields throughout your career and shift to a related scientific career. Without a doubt science careers are very satisfying, challenging and rewarding.

Do you need information on aquatic science careers? Check-out the stats and facts available at http://www.careertoolkits.com ? Learn about aquaculture careers.

Envision Yourself on the Road to a Travel Agent Career

Friday, December 26th, 2008

A travel agent career is the dream of many people. Do you have a vision of travelling the world on a discount or even for free, and imparting your knowledge on your customers? Well, whilst being a travel agent can be this glamorous at times, most of the time is spent in the office or store talking to clients and organizing their vacations for them. All agents find this to be a very rewarding position as vacations are a happy time in people’s lives and you are helping to make their dreams a reality. It is however true that many real estate agents receive highly discounted personal travel.

The role of a travel agent is to be able to assess the travel needs of people for both person and business travel. Ideally a travel agent can book an entire trip including flights, transfers, cruises, hotels, entertainment and more. However this is not always the case and some clients only wish for a portion of their travel plans to be arranged by a travel agent. In any case a travel agent must be flexible, knowledgeable and personable when it comes to helping clients in the best possible way.

Most qualified travel agents gain employment with a major or minor travel agency. Less than 15% of qualified travel agents are self employed however this is becoming a more popular option as people’s travel needs change. Niche travel agencies that specialize in a particular type of travel are booming. These can include things like African safaris, eco-friendly travel, bird watching travel, historical travel and many more options. Being seen as an expert in a particular travel niche can bring you more clients than you would receive if you were a ‘jack of all trades’.

To start your travel agent career you must undertake some study. Generally a high school diploma will qualify you to be accepted into a travel agent certificate course. Some travel agents have a bachelor’s degree in travel and tourism however this is not necessary, but is an excellent way to boost your career prospects. It is also preferable that a travel agent can speak at least one foreign language and have a very good knowledge of world history and geography. Communication is a skill that is vital for travel agents since you speak to people on a daily basis.

The nice thing about being a travel agent is that it doesn’t require too much education, but is a respected career with a decent salary. So if you want to begin your career right away and not spend years seeking a college degree, becoming a travel agent will allow you to do so. The best type of personality for becoming a travel agent is a people person. You will constantly work with people during your career and how well you communicate and portray yourself and your services will determine how well you do in this career.

A travel agent career is a very exciting one and that brings rich variety to each and every day of your working life.

If becoming a travel agent sounds like an interesting career to you, make sure to check out http://www.careertoolkits.com/ — Read articles related to online travel agent school programs and how to become a travel agent.

Choices Abound With Engineering Careers

Friday, December 26th, 2008

Do you want to get into an engineering career? Many people choose engineering as a career they would like to get into, but then there is the dilemma of exactly which engineering path to take as there are countless choices in this exciting and dynamic field. In fact, there are over 25 widely recognized specialties within the engineering field. So it’s no surprise that people can get stumped before they even start with their education.

The basic outline of what an engineer does involves the design and manufacture of machines, systems, structures and processes. Engineering involves mathematics, science and creative thinking. Engineers thus must be exceptionally intelligent and have knowledge of the field that they are aiming to immerse themselves in. Most engineers are excellent problem solvers so the focus in college is usually on developing problem solving skills.

Engineering as a career requires some college. There are many associate degree programs to choose from as well as a few certifications. However, it is advised that individuals seeking to become engineers receive a bachelors degree. It is possible to start with an associates degree and then add to it to wide up with a bachelors degree in the end. There are also graduate programs in engineering, but often, a bachelor’s degree will suffice. Engineers may also become licensed with will only add to the base salary of their pay.

Some engineers create brand new products worth hundreds of millions of dollars and as such can earn considerable amounts of money. Particular skill sets can also be in demand worldwide where there is often a shortage of engineers experienced in particular project types. Science and mathematics are fields that engineers most strictly focus on in their years of study. Technical drawing is also another major focus.

Many engineers have the opportunity to travel throughout the world as there is work in many developing countries and places like Dubai who are constantly erecting new, unique buildings and hotels. The potential to earn extra money overseas is huge and lures many engineers out of their home country. It has been said that there is a lack of skilled engineers worldwide and salaries certainly indicate this, with highly experienced engineers commanding hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

There are so many different engineering career paths that you can choose, it can easily become bewildering deciding which way to go. The first thing you should do is discover your interests and research various engineering roles and their salaries. You can choose from electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace, environmental, and civil engineering along with many others.

Engineers are often thought of as inventors as they are the people who design structures, although they also work with architects in most cases. Engineers are the people to make it happen and must take into account many factors such as budget, safety and available materials. This can be extremely challenging and some engineering jobs can take 10 years or more to complete. Engineers thus must have patience and determination to see out an entire project from start to finish.

To gain experience as an engineer most people work in their desired field for some time in a lower position. If you have access to engineers, consider talking to them and volunteering your time to help out in order to gain exposure and experience that will benefit your own career.

Interested in becoming an engineer? Find free, online information covering mechanical engineering careers and the electrical engineering careers. It?s free and online at http://www.careertoolkits.com

Green Collar Jobs and How You Can Fit In

Thursday, December 25th, 2008

The world is constantly changing before our eyes. Technology has created advancements that we could never have imagined 20 years ago. But with many of the advancements have come negative changes to our environment like pollution and global warming that affect the way we live our lives.

As a result, these changes have inspired the creation of jobs meant to contribute to and aid our environment rather than destroy it. These jobs are called “green collar jobs.” If you are interested in learning more about this industry, take a look at how it affects you and how you can fit in.

What are Green Collar Jobs?

Green collar jobs are typically defined along the lines of blue collar jobs. However, these jobs were created by companies that want to help improve the environment. You can see minor changes in the everyday activities of some businesses. For instance, some grocery chains have stopped passing out plastic bags for free and have began charging customers with the proceeds benefiting the environment. Because so much more effort is being placed on “going green” there are many more jobs coming available to help create zero waste, conserve water, develop residential solar energy and more.

What Types of Jobs are Available?

Some specific job types that you might be able to get into that very directly mean to enhance the environment include bike delivery services, gas station jobs related to biodiesel, green waste composting, landscaping, construction material and debris hauling and reuse.

A few others include:

- Hazardous material clean-up

- Developments for non-toxic household cleaning products

- Expansion of open spaces such as parks, recycling, solar installation

- Printing with non-toxic inks and dyes

- Maintenance and repair for public transit

- Tree cutting and pruning

- Water efficiency and conservation

- Weatherization for homes

- Energy conservation

Many businesses are hopping on the “go green” bandwagon. So this is a good time to begin searching for employment in this area.

Can I Get Involved?

One of the perks of green collar jobs is that many of them offer on-the-job training. So if you’re looking for an environmentally-responsible career change, or post-retirement job that can make you feel good about what you’re doing, many green collar jobs can be easily moved into. Additionally, if you want a mid-to senior-level position, those jobs are available too.

The industry is growing so rapidly that in fact it is predicted that jobs in the energy-efficient industries could grow from the currently estimated 8 million available to as many as 40 million by 2030. If you are interested in finding out where you fit in, you can visit a career consultant who can help you find your way based on your specific skills. You can, for instance, use your human resources background to become a human resources manager at a solar energy company. As the industry grows, the opportunities will be endless.

If your passion falls in line with caring for the environment then green collar work may be right for you. So take your time, explore what’s out there, and seek counseling if necessary. Then enjoy getting paid to make a difference in our world.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare top resume writers, in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com

Writing Successful KSA Factorss For TSA Positions

Thursday, December 25th, 2008

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) position applications commonly require you to answer four or more knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) questions. A KSA statement is a statement about the unique qualities needed to fill a particular position. Knowing how to write an effective answer to these TSA KSAs can make the difference between getting the job and getting left out.

The TSA uses KSAs to help determine the applicant’s eligibility for the job. In other words, your answer to each KSA tells the TSA whether you would be an appropriate candidate for the job. Well-written answers to KSA statements can land you an interview, whereas poorly written or incomplete answers can disqualify you right off the bat.

Common TSA KSAs

1. Technical Competency: Knowledge of the steps and associated procedures involved in acquiring, deploying, and maintaining security screening systems and technologies.

2. Decisiveness: Exercises good judgment by making sound and well-informed decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; makes effective and timely decisions, even when data are limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; is proactive and achievement oriented.

3. Oral Communication: Makes clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals or groups (including briefings to industry executives and high level government officials, etc.), listens effectively and clarifies information as needed; facilitates an open exchange of ideas and fosters atmosphere of open communication.

4. Planning and Evaluating: Determines objectives and strategies; organizes work, set priorities, determines resource requirements; coordinates with other parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors and evaluates the progress and outcomes of operational plans; anticipates potential threats or opportunities.

5. Human Resources: Assesses current and future staffing needs based on organizational goals and budget realities. Using merit principles, ensures staff is appropriately selected, developed, utilized, appraised and rewarded; takes corrective action.

6. Leadership: Inspires, motivates and guides others toward goal accomplishment; coaches, mentors, and challenges subordinates; adapts leadership style to a variety of situations models high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness, and respect for the individuals by applying these to daily behaviors.

How to Write Successful TSA KSA Responses

Writing TSA KSA answers makes many people nervous – mainly because they don’t know how to respond to these questions. But with the right knowledge you’ll find that writing a winning answer to any KSA is a breeze.

1. Be complete. It is important to answer each KSA completely. Simply saying, “Yes, I have that skill,” will get you nowhere. Treat each KSA like a news article: who, what, why, where, when, and how are all integral parts of the story. Tell the TSA what knowledge or skill you have that satisfies their requirements; where, when, how, and why you got it; and who you got it from. And don’t forget the other how: how your skill relates to what the employer is looking for.

2. Provide concrete examples. A vague assertion that you have the necessary skills for the job is not going to convince a prospective employer. One of the most important aspects to successful KSA responses is providing specific examples of where and when you gained the experience. Be sure to tie your answer back to the KSA statement by stating how your examples give you the skills needed for the job.

3. Be concise. The TSA is not interested in your creative writing abilities, so keep the fluff to a minimum. Answer each KSA in plain language, so that your answers are simple and easy to follow. There is a fine line between answering a KSA completely and sounding like a pompous windbag. Although your KSA answers should be as long as it needs to be to fully answer the question, most answers should be ? to one page in length.

4. Think outside the box. Even if you think you don’t have any experience to satisfy a certain KSA, don’t leave it blank. Instead, consider other areas of your life that may have given you the necessary skills. Not every KSA must be answered purely with job experience. Training, volunteer work, internships, and academic projects and awards may also demonstrate that you satisfy the requirements of the position.

5. Sell yourself! KSAs give you an opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants. Use these documents to sell your best qualities – and paint your worst in a more pleasing light. If your answers demonstrate confidence in your abilities, an employer will be much more likely to believe that you can do the job.

6. Edit! Most professional documents require editing and proofreading to verify that they are free of errors. However, unlike other professional documents, your answers to the KSA statements have a lot riding on them: they are your only chance at a good first impression. Therefore, you need to take pains to make sure every word is in its place – no typos, misspellings, or discrepancies between your resume and your KSA answers.

Success Seekers Wanted

KSAs have one purpose: to find the best person for the job. This is the case for all positions, but especially so for the TSA given the high stakes nature of their mission. In order to write successful KSA answers, you need to assume that you are that best person. Take your time with each answer, choose the best examples of your knowledge and experience, and edit your answers until they shine. With the right amounts of confidence and care, your KSA answers will open doors for you that otherwise would have remained closed.

Jason Kay recommends visiting KSADoctor.com to learn lots more information relating to federal government job applications. They can assist with federal resume writing, KSA writing, and more.

3 Common Resume Writing Mistakes For Information Technology Candidates

Monday, December 22nd, 2008

Creating an IT resume is not always an easy task. There is usually a lot of information to convey. Candidates putting together their own resume for the IT industry often make a few critical mistakes that can cost them dearly in today’s job market, especially if their job search strategy is not up to snuff.

Mistake #1: Too Much Information

The primary mistake made by IT professionals is in simply providing way too much detail. Most candidates load each thought, bullet, or statement with as much technical mumbo jumbo as they can. For example, it is common for candidates to show the technologies they used in each position. In addition, they will list all the technologies they used for individual projects for which they were involved.

It may prove beneficial to list some key technologies that are relevant for the position you are now pursuing to communicate your level of understanding. As an example, if you are pursuing a position with a firm that has an extensive network of employees who operate remotely in the field, it would serve you well to incorporate technologies like secure VPN, Citrix Presentation Server, and other related tools. However, to list things like Visual Basic, MS Office, and HTML within the specific bullet point will serve as more of a distraction than anything else. After all, who wants to read a bullet point that describes a project that takes up five lines of text?

To address this issue, I recommend that you simply prepare a technical proficiencies or technical skills section at the end of your resume so that a prospective employer can reference a single list to get a flavor for the technologies with which you are familiar. Unless the technology is of the upmost importance in demonstrating your knowledge and ability in a particular area, do not include it in the job description or the job achievements sections.

Mistake #2: Being Too Technical

One of the biggest mistakes made by IT directors and executives is that they are too technical. Now you will want to be careful here, as titles can be deceiving. IT executives at small companies may very well need to be a hands-on technical expert to successfully meet their job requirements. However, a job as an IT director or executive at a large company will be inherently less hands-on. As a result, the resume that a candidate prepares for that target should not be too heavy on technical information. Yes, it is important to convey a technical understanding. But one thing that concerns recruiters and hiring managers if a job seeker has a detailed technical resume is that they won’t know how to back off and manage the operation from a strategic standpoint because they will be stuck in the morass of the day-to-day technical support issues.

Mistake #3: Not Incorporating Keywords or Buzzwords

Many IT professionals have a strong feeling of contempt for peppering keywords or buzzwords throughout the document. One of the main reasons is that anyone can include keywords like infrastructure management, enterprise solutions, and lifecycle management in a resume, but few can perform these activities effectively. As you conduct your job search, you may even find this sentiment echoed by many IT hiring managers.

There is one problem, however. Most technical hiring managers will receive a short list of candidates for a particular position after they have been screened and funneled through the HR department. Most HR representatives do use keywords to help match your resume and qualifications with the position requirements. Having a specific keywords or core competencies section helps the HR folks to quickly and easily match up some of your key skills and experience with those listed on the requirements document. These will help get your resume through the initial screen and into the hands of the hiring manager who can then read through your work history section that should back up your claims in the keyword section.

Developing a strategy that addresses each of these 3 common mistakes when creating an IT resume will put you well on your way in a competitive job environment.

My company is called No Stone Unturned, and I am an MBA and certified professional r?sum? writer (CPRW). I have been a career consultant since 2002 with an additional 8 years of corporate hiring experience. You can check out my website that offers tools such as the No Nonsense Job Search Strategy guide and other Job Search Tips.

Law Enforcement Training Leads to Fantastic Opportunities

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

Law enforcement is a very high stress career, but for the right person, it is a very exciting field. You may need to put your life on the line if you choose to work in certain law enforcement positions. If the idea of serving and protecting sound like a good match for you and you’re willing to work in a physically active environment, then law enforcement may be the perfect career for you.

Specialized training is required if you wish to become a police officer. There are several sub branches of law enforcement so researching your options will ensure you choose the right path for you. Some of the law enforcement agencies in the US include:

FBI

Department of Homeland Security

The Secret Service

Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms

DEA

US Coast Guard

Treasury Bureau

Security USPS Postal Inspectors

Immigration and Customs

US Border Patrol

The above are just some of the opportunities that await you after you undertake the proper training. There are many many places you can work in the law enforcement field.

The idea of law enforcement is to protect citizens and enforce the law. It takes some substantial training to become a member of certain groups such as the FBI and Secret Service. Training takes in many real life scenarios as well as theory. You will need to gain at least a Bachelor’s degree in order to compete in these higher level positions. However, other positions in law enforcement do not require a college education, but have their own special training programs.

Some of the training you will undertake includes: - Discipline training - Fitness training - Shooting and firearms - Legal studies - Communications - Crime scene education - Real life scenarios - Psychological tests

There is no doubt that law enforcement training of any type is tough. It goes without saying that you must be a tough person to be able to enforce the law on a full time basis. For this reason the training in effect will show you if you have what it takes to succeed as an officer of the law.

Becoming a police officer is the most common career path in the initial stages. After several years experience as a police officer you can choose to seek a higher position within the police force, or apply for positions in other law enforcement agencies like border patrol and the US Coast Guard. Whatever your choice, these careers are exciting and adventurous, but can also be dangerous at times.

Another career option for police officer is to join the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT). This requires even more demanding training that includes physical fitness at a high level, weapons and strategic training and psychological training.

Law enforcement training will provide you with a career for life. You never stop learning when you are employed in this industry and every day brings opportunity to learn something new. See your local state law enforcement office for information about training in your area. Because each state differs slightly you should find out what the requirements are to apply for the proper training within your state.

Interested in becoming a police officer? Find free, online information covering the steps to become a police officer and the police officer yearly salary. It?s free and online at http://www.careertoolkits.com

Why Teaching Salaries Aren’t All That Bad

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

Teaching salaries often gain a lot of attention in the media due to the fact that teachers believe that they should be better compensated for the important work they do. In addition to just teachers believing this, so does most of society. The trouble with the low teaching salaries is that the field of teaching does not always attract the best teachers as they know they will struggle to make a living. This is a fair allegation and one that is constantly being attended to by politicians. Without a doubt teaching is one of the most important positions a person can hold and therefore it is one which everyone holds in high regard.

However, according to the respected salary website CBSalary.com, the average salaries in the follow major cities are as follows:

Springfield, IL - $48,015

Chicago, IL - $53,713

Atlanta, GA - $35,903

Savannah, GA - $25,008

Orlando, FL - $31,684

Tampa, FL - $36,630

Miami, FL - $34,501

When I saw this list, I was a little shocked at the average pay for many of these cities. I had thought that teachers earned a much lower salary than this. Although they can always use a pay raise, a teacher’s salary is for the school year. Teacher’s are free to do whatever they like during the summer. So if they get a summer job, their annual salary will be higher than the figures listed above.

It is a known fact that the salary of a teacher will vary, sometimes considerably, with their education level and their experience level. If a teacher has a Bachelor’s degree works in the same school as a teacher with a Master’s degree then it is highly likely that the master’s degree qualified teacher is being paid more. This is proven by the fact that teacher wages in Chicago vary from $36,000 right up to $89,000

Connecticut is the state listed as having the highest average teacher salary at $57,760 with California a close second. The lowest teacher average salary is in South Dakota with the average sitting at just $34,039, a difference of more than $20,000 from the wealthiest states.

The school a teacher works at can also have a big role to play when it comes to salary. Private schools often pay much more than public schools, but the entry requirements can be much stricter. The subject and level a teacher specializes in also has an effect on salary. Primary school teachers generally make less money than secondary school teachers. It is also noted that science teachers make considerably more than maths teachers, despite the difficult nature of the subject of mathematics. Salaries can even vary considerably from district to district in the same city.

With all these different factors determining the teacher salary it can be very difficult to predict what your salary will be once you are a qualified teacher. By researching the average salary in your area as well as comparing various schools, you will be able to form a good estimate of how much money you can expect to earn in your new career as a teacher.

Do you want to pursue a teaching career? Checkout the free resources and articles at http://www.careertoolkits.com and learn the reasons to become a teacher and much more.