Teacher’s Hourly Wages: A Comparison Across Michigan Schools and Alternative Occupations

When teacher salaries are discussed, two very different pictures often emerge. The first of these portrays teachers as underpaid, overworked servants of the public good. The second paints a picture of an overpaid group of civil servants who spend very little time actually working. As we might expect, reality is somewhere between these two extremes. This report looks at Michigan teacher salaries. First, we look at teacher salaries and some of the factors affecting their salaries within the state. Next, we translate those salaries into hourly terms to account for the ten month work schedule of teachers and the amount of time they spend actually working each week. Finally, we compare the actual hourly earnings of teachers with some other professions.