Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$30,000–$35,000
$30,000–$35,000
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$550–$950
$550–$950
Housing Costs (shared)
$300–$600
$300–$600
Health Insurance
$40–$80
$40–$80
Utilities
$60
$60
Daycare
$700–$800 / month
$700–$800 / month
Monthly Transit Pass
$60
$60
Car Required
Yes
Yes
Car Insurance
$70
$70
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$150–$180
$150–$180
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
$4,500–7,800 / year, after AmeriCorps award is applied
$4,500–7,800 / year, after AmeriCorps award is applied
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
Yes
Yes
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
Yearly through university
Yearly 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
Marquette University, Cardinal Stritch University
Marquette University, Cardinal Stritch University
Teacher Certification Preparation
Milwaukee corps members work toward certification through one of two university partners. In order to qualify for the programs, all corps members are required to pass the general Praxis I exam and the Praxis II content area exam. Corps members will also have the option of attaining a master’s in education through individual programs with additional coursework.
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.