Arkansas Employment Outlook

What all is involved in becoming an elementary school teacher? What degree do you need? What experience is needed? What does an elementary school teacher do? How much do teachers get paid? Is the outlook and turnover rate good for this job? Is the employment opportunity better in Arkansas or out of state? All of these and more will be answered in the essay below. The first step to becoming a teacher is traditionally to go to college and begin working towards entering the teaching program, also known as a “ teacher preparation program” (Arkansas). To become a teacher in Arkansas you must hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree and have completed a teaching program including student teaching and take an Arkansas History course(Arkansas).

According to bls.gov, the outlook is average, “projected to grow six percent from 2014-2024”(Summary). Also, according to onetonline.org, the job has a “bright outlook” meaning many jobs are expected to open up between 2014-2024, a growth of about six percent is expected(25-2021.00). All in all teaching is a field that will keep growing as the population keeps growing. The job outlook and rate of employment vary from state to state. In the states surrounding Arkansas, like Louisiana and Oklahoma, the rate is about 5-6% (Employment). The employment rate is much higher in places like California and North Dakota, where it is upwards of 10%, and North Carolina where it is 9%. The employment rate is much lower in places like Wisconsin where it is 1%, and New Jersey where it is a measly 2%(Employment). So employment opportunities are better out of Arkansas. The reason for this is that education isn’t even in the top twenty for industries in Arkansas, yet is number two in California(Employment). That means that not near as many people work in education in Arkansas as in California. The average turnover rate for elementary school teachers in Arkansas is 239 due to replacements each year, and 57 openings due to growth(

This could not be more true, the amount an elementary school teacher earns varies in every state. The “median salary” an elementary school teacher makes annually, in the U.S., as of 2016 is “$55,800”(Summary). The average annual salary of an elementary school teacher in Arkansas is “$45, 120”(Arkansas). The beginning salary for teaching in Arkansas is “$32, 478”( 2011-2012). The national average starting salary for an elementary school teacher is “$35,672”(2011-2012). The most a person can make being an elementary school teacher varies greatly. Those who work in larger, more developed areas generally earn more than those who work in rural, under developed areas. According to bls.gov ,in the U.S. “the highest 10% earned more than $88,590”