‘Can’t pay their bills with love’: In many teaching jobs, teachers’ salaries can’t cover rent

Read the entire article by Erin Richards and Matt Wynn on USA Today.

In sunny Miami, bilingual elementary teacher Mari Corugedo has 26 years of experience, a master’s degree and a passion for helping Spanish-speaking students quickly learn English.

Her annual compensation for those skills: $64,000, plus benefits. That doesn’t go far in this popular coastal city, where median rent has shot up to almost $2,000 per month, and the median mortgage is almost $1,300 per month before taxes or insurance, according to the real estate site Zillow. 

“We spend a good 30% to 40% of our income on our mortgage,” said Corugedo, 52. “I would have moved out of Miami by now if not for my husband’s additional income.”

Beginner teachers have an even tougher time affording Miami. Skyrocketing housing prices combined with relatively low educator salaries have made the area one of the nation’s priciest cities for starting teachers.

In the first analysis of its kind, USA TODAY examined salaries and housing costs for teachers all over the country. 

To complete the article, visit USA Today.