While salaries are slowly increasing for teachers, they're still low in comparison to other professions. Compensation varies drastically from state to state. The AFT reported that in 1999, the three states offering the highest starting salaries for teachers were Alaska, Connecticut, and New York. At the bottom of the list were Arkansas, Idaho, and North Dakota. Public teachers nationwide are required to have a bachelor's degree.
Many states also require that teachers be licensed and complete a teacher's education program.
Some states require additional coursework, such as technology training or a Masters in Education. Private and charter schools set their own application standards and generally pay less. Applicants do not need to have majored in education. Students of science and humanities are eligible. Education Week , Bureau of Labor Statistics , and the National Center for Education Statistics .