Working as a therapist or special educator within a school environment has so many perks. You get to make a hands-on difference with youth whose lives drastically improve by having you in it. You get to become part of a community of people who care deeply about the youth of Chicago and their accessibility and inclusion into classrooms. And you even get to experience fun and exciting environments no other profession gets to.
But with all these wonderful job aspects, there is often one big downside: the pay.
Teachers and Therapists Often Feel Underpaid
According to research done by the Economy Policy Institute, “Public school teachers earn about 20% less in weekly wages than nonteacher college graduates.”1 With less money paid to teachers and therapists in schools, and such high demand for these professionals creating a national teacher shortage in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, what can be done to boost earning potential?
Most Salaries Are Set By Teaching Unions
While unions are generally beneficial to the teaching profession, they do come with predetermined collective bargaining agreements. These agreements state what your salary is based on experience and education level, and don’t allow much (if any) space for negotiating or bargaining for higher salaries. Because of this, taking a union position means your salary may be below what you’d like to make for an in-school position.
Why You Can Make More Working With a Staffing Agency
Staffing agencies are not bound by union teacher contracts. As an employee of the staffing agency, you receive benefits and pay from us – meaning we can negotiate a higher salary on your behalf. One of the perks of partnering with a school staffing agency like Spotter Staffing is our team of expert recruiters who are ready to work with the school to reach a higher salary for OTs, PTs, SLPs, Social Workers and Speech-Language Pathologists. You work hard, and you should be paid fairly for your devoted efforts, and we can make that happen.
Need Help Finding a Therapy Job With Better Pay?
Spotter Staffing helps people find better careers in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Social Work, and Special Education. If you need help finding a job that pays you what you’re worth, and gives you what you deserve, we would be happy to help! Click here to browse our open jobs or contact our team of recruiters today!
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