Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$30,430–$34,550
$30,430–$34,550
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$400–$700
$400–$700
Housing Costs (shared)
$200–$500
$200–$500
Health Insurance
$69
$69
Utilities
$100
$100
Daycare
$600
$600
Monthly Transit Pass
N/A
N/A
Car Required
Yes
Yes
Car Insurance
$88
$88
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$220
$220
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
$500
$500
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
No
No
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
One year – through university
One year – through university
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
East Carolina University
East Carolina University
Teacher Certification Information
Corps members must pass a subject-specific exam called The Praxis II Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers, before entering the classroom. Teach For America teachers in North Carolina who teach for three years and are in good standing with Teach For America receive their permanent license. For corps members who are unsure if they will teach for three years, permanent licensure can be obtained by completing an online program with our university partner, East Carolina University (ECU), for approximately $500. Corps members have the option to pursue a master’s degree in education from ECU with an emphasis on teacher leadership. Due to the unique structure of this program and the requirement to complete an internship after your second year of teaching, this degree can be completed during the summer after the conclusion of your corps commitment.
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.