Eliza Gwin
Staff Writer
Imagine ordering an Uber after a late night out with friends and seeing your teacher pull up. While the situation seems unlikely, many teachers work side jobs to make a living. Teachers are some of the hardest working members of society, so why are they underpaid? Forty Alexandria City High School teachers participated in a survey about teacher pay and side jobs, and the results were illuminating.
67.5% of teachers who responded to the survey said that they currently hold a side job or have at some point during their teaching years. While more than 45% worked as tutors, many worked in retail and restaurants, and some worked as Uber and Lyft drivers.
85% of teachers who responded to the survey said they had a side job because they were not making enough money. Some needed additional earnings to live in Northern Virginia, pay off student debts, or supplement their income. The people who teach and prepare the next generation for the workforce can hardly afford to pay their bills.
“When I was doing BOTH jobs, teacher by day, managing a bar three weeknights, I’d get about three hours of sleep after getting home from the night job then get up and come to school,” said an anonymous teacher. “Basically, if I wasn’t at one of my jobs, I was sleeping or napping.” This is the reality for many teachers in Alexandria, given the cost of living in this region.
According to Business.org, Virginia pays its teachers 10.40% less than the average wage, making it the worst paying state for teachers. However, former Gov. Ralph Northam proposed raising teacher pay by 10% before leaving office in January. While Gov. Glenn Youngkin has expressed his support for the proposal, it is unclear whether or not he will make it a priority.
Wheelwright, Trevor. “Best States for Teacher Pay in 2021.” Business.org. Retrieved April 29, 2022, from https://www.business.org/hr/workforce-management/best-us-states-for-teachers/
