Teacher Job Satisfaction: Data Tables

Table 1. Percentage distribution of teachers in public schools, by satisfaction and perceptions of administrative 

support: School years 2003–04, 2007–08, and 2011–12

Teacher and school characteristic

2003–04 2007–08 2011–12

Satisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied

Total 91.0 9.0 93.0 7.0 90.3 9.7

Perceptions of administrative support1

The school administration’s behavior toward 

the staff is supportive and encouraging

Agree 94.3 5.7 96.6 3.4 95.1 4.9

Disagree 72.0 28.0 67.1 32.9 65.4 34.6

1

 Teachers were asked: “To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?” The responses “strongly agree” and “somewhat agree” have been 

combined for estimates of “Agree,” and the responses “somewhat disagree” and “strongly disagree” have been combined for estimates of “Disagree.”

NOTE: “Satisfied” teachers are those who responded “strongly agree” or “somewhat agree” to the statement: “I am generally satisfied with being a teacher at this school.” 

“Dissatisfied” teachers are those who responded “somewhat disagree” or “strongly disagree” to that statement. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) “Public School Teacher Data Files,” 2003–04, 2007–08, 

and 2011–12.

Table 2. Percentage distribution of teachers in private schools, by satisfaction and perceptions of administrative 

support: School years 2003–04, 2007–08, and 2011–12

Teacher and school characteristic

2003–04 2007–08 2011–12

Satisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied

Total 95.2 4.8 95.9 4.1 94.7 5.3

Perceptions of administrative support1

The school administration’s behavior toward 

the staff is supportive and encouraging

Agree 96.9 3.1 97.5 2.5 97.1 2.9

Disagree 77.3 22.7 73.9 26.1 75.7 24.3

1

 Teachers were asked: “To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?” The responses “strongly agree” and “somewhat agree” have been 

combined for estimates of “Agree,” and the responses “somewhat disagree” and “strongly disagree” have been combined for estimates of “Disagree.”

NOTE: “Satisfied” teachers are those who responded “strongly agree” or “somewhat agree” to the statement: “I am generally satisfied with being a teacher at this school.” 

“Dissatisfied” teachers are those who responded “somewhat disagree” or “strongly disagree” to that statement. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) “Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2003–04, 

2007–08, and 2011–12.
Teacher Job Satisfaction: Standard Error Tables

Standard errors for table 1: Percentage distribution of teachers in public schools, by satisfaction and perceptions of 

administrative support: School years 2003–04, 2007–08, and 2011–12

Teacher and school characteristic

2003–04 2007–08 2011–12

Satisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied

Total 0.30 0.30 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35

Perceptions of administrative support

The school administration’s behavior toward 

the staff is supportive and encouraging

Agree 0.25 0.25 0.22 0.22 0.29 0.29

Disagree 0.97 0.97 1.63 1.63 1.25 1.25

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) “Public School Teacher Data Files,” 2003–04, 2007–08, 

and 2011–12.

Standard errors for table 2: Percentage distribution of teachers in private schools, by satisfaction and perceptions of 

administrative support: School years 2003–04, 2007–08, and 2011–12

Teacher and school characteristic

2003–04 2007–08 2011–12

Satisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied

Total 0.60 0.60 0.43 0.43 0.54 0.54

Perceptions of administrative support

The school administration’s behavior toward 

the staff is supportive and encouraging

Agree 0.46 0.46 0.39 0.39 0.42 0.42

Disagree 4.22 4.22 3.03 3.03 2.79 2.79

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) “Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2003–04, 2007–08, 

and 2011–12.