Advantages & Disadvantages of Becoming a Teacher

If you have patience of gold and like to help people reach their full potential, teaching may be the way to go. Of course, being a teacher isn't always a bed of roses. You have to get comfortable with routines, be capable of dealing with students and feel satisfied with the salary. Like every profession, teaching has its ups and downs. However, if teaching is in your heart, the pros will outweigh the cons.

While you can make a decent living, don't expect to get rich off a teacher's salary. A teacher may not rival a doctor or an engineer's salary; however, there is a bright side. When everyone is busy working 9 to 5 on hot summer days, teachers can relax at the beach or wherever else they choose to enjoy their paid summer vacation.

As a teacher, you can indulge in subjects that are close to your heart. If you specialize in history, you can explore past events with your students and get to fall in love with the subject all over again. However, the challenge lies in keeping the material not only fresh for your students but for yourself.

If you choose to teach adolescents or even college kids, every year a new group will enter your classroom. Being around different students will keep you on your toes and encourage you to be at your very best. You'll also perfect your craft. The flip side is that teachers are often assigned the grade level they will teach and have little say in their mobility. If you have the patience to deal with the politics involved in teaching, you may be a perfect fit for the job.

A teacher's work life doesn't include fancy parties like in advertising or marketing. While many teachers never experience a dull moment in the classroom, part of the job is getting used to routine. Teachers have lesson plans and schedules. At first, these routines may be comforting, but after a while, they may get boring. It's extra important for teachers to be creative and keep themselves motivated, even if they know their schedules and lessons like the back of their hand.

Kindergarten and elementary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $55,480 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, kindergarten and elementary school teachers earned a 25th percentile salary of $44,220, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $70,600, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 1,565,300 people were employed in the U.S. as kindergarten and elementary school teachers.