Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$30,000-$40,000
$30,000-$40,000
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$500
$500
Housing Costs (shared)
$300–$450
$300–$450
Health Insurance
Up to $340 / month
Up to $340 / month
Utilities
$30–$150 / month
$30–$150 / month
Daycare
$384 (toddler)–$513 (infant) at center-based daycare facility
$384 (toddler)–$513 (infant) at center-based daycare facility
Monthly Transit Pass
$0.50–$2 / ride
$0.50–$2 / ride
Car Required
Highly recommended
Highly recommended
Car Insurance
$1,200–$1,600 per year
$1,200–$1,600 per year
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$180 - $265
$180 - $265
Up Front Certification Costs
How Do You Pay Start-Up Costs
Out of Pocket
Out of Pocket
Ongoing Costs Through the Two-Year Commitment
Ongoing Certification Costs
$10,000 - $20,000 (depending on program selected)
$10,000 - $20,000 (depending on program selected)
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
Yes, Americorps awards may be applied toward certification programs; may not be used to cover testing costs.
Yes, Americorps awards may be applied toward certification programs; may not be used to cover testing costs.
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
Interim certification through our university partners. Corps members take coursework throughout their two years in the corps.
Interim certification through our university partners. Corps members take coursework throughout their two years in the corps.
Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of the two years?
Yes
Yes
Is a master's degree required?
No
No
Partner Universities
University of Michigan, Oakland University
University of Michigan, Oakland University
Teacher Certification Information
Corps members must take and pass the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification in order to qualify for interim certification in the state of Michigan. Upon passing these content-specific tests, corps members enroll in a certification program with one of our university partners. Oakland University also offers an optional master’s for corps members who take two additional courses beyond the certification requirements.
Notes and Clarifications
- Beginning teacher salary: If you have a master's degree in education, are placed in a bilingual classroom, or in a math/science classroom you may receive additional compensation.
- Avg. health insurance: In some placement districts, health insurance premiums are pre-tax deductions.
- Total tax rate: Federal + state + city. Only applies to starting salaries.
- Up-front certification: Expenses that must be paid before your first day of teaching.
- Paying start-up costs: Can you pay for testing and up-front certification costs with transitional grants and loans or do you have to pay out-of-pocket?
- Ongoing certification: Total certification costs over two-year teaching commitment.
- AmeriCorps award for certification: Can you use your AmeriCorps award to pay testing/certification costs?
- Master's in two years: Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years?
- Master's required: Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment?
- Extra master's degree costs: Additional total cost to obtain a master's degree (on top of ongoing certification costs); does not include AmeriCorps award.
- Partner university(ies): These universities partner with Teach For America for ongoing certification requirements, and in some cases, the fulfillment of a master's degree in education.
Teach For America was named one of Fortune magazine's top 100 employers to work for.
Teach For America was named one of America's top 100 Ideal Employers in Universum's 2011 American Student Survey.