Most people choose a career in education because they’re passionate about teaching, not because of the pay cheque. But even if you’re getting into education because you want to make a difference there’s no harm in wanting to find ways to earn more.
Education often gets a bad reputation as a poorly paid profession, but that’s not always the case. There are plenty of roles in which you can earn a good salary whilst also doing something fulfilling.
Maths teacher.
If algebra is your thing and trigonometry gets you buzzing, then a role as a maths teacher might be perfect for you. There is a shortage of maths teachers so anyone qualified in the role is in high demand, and you may find the salary is a little higher than in other subjects.
A maths teacher will cover everything from basics like addition and multiplication, to complex mathematical topics like algebra and calculus. The complexity of the maths you teach will depend on the level you’re teaching it at.
Average salary: £37,400
Science teacher.
A science teacher covers a broad range of topics from subjects like biology and the environment to chemistry and physics. The subject matter is vast – one day you could be teaching your students about electronic circuits, the next you could be giving them a step-by-step lesson on the process of digestion.
But the job of a science teacher doesn’t stop at teaching. You will also encourage them to find their own answers and explore the subject further in their own way.
Average salary: £37,400
English teacher.
If you love the literary greats, consider yourself to be an avid reader and are a stickler for grammar and spelling, a role as an English teacher can be both rewarding and a lucrative career. English teachers don’t just make students read books and learn the difference between an apostrophe and a comma. They get their students excited about analysing texts and discussing the reasons why an author might have written in a certain way, or exploring the influences that shaped their writing and what conclusions can be drawn from them.
It’s as much about getting under the skin of great novel and discovering what made the author tick as well as learning how to read and write properly.
Average salary: £37,400
Supply teacher.
Working as a supply teacher means no two days are ever the same. When staff absence crops up it’s the supply teacher that comes to the rescue, filling the gap at short notice and teaching the children in place of their permanent teacher. You can find yourself working in different schools, adapting to different teaching styles and working with different age groups as well.
Supply teaching can be a great short-term role if you’re newly qualified and not sure what you want from a more permanent role. It can also offer much greater flexibility than a permanent role, although you’ll have the same responsibilities as a permanent member of staff.
Average salary: £23,400
Cover supervisor.
The role of cover supervisor comes with lots of variety. When there are staff shortages in a school, a cover supervisor may be called in to supervise a class carrying out pre-prepared exercises while the permanent staff member is absent. The main responsibilities are to ensure pupils carry out the work set and to manage the classroom.
You won’t be carrying out any active teaching as a cover supervisor and the role greatly depends on whether you’re in a primary, secondary or private school. You’ll need to monitor pupils, collect in any work and return it to the appropriate teacher, deal with emergencies and report back where necessary.
Average salary: £22,000