America's Teachers Are Working Two Jobs and Barely Getting By as Education Funding Crisis Deepens

Introduction

Ashley, a teacher earning $62,000 a year, works a second job to avoid living paycheck to paycheck. She’s not alone—she’s part of what researchers describe as a “deep financial crisis” facing American educators. As of early 2026, nearly two-thirds of teachers are taking on second jobs to supplement their income, a record-high percentage that reflects stagnant wages, rising inflation, and a growing pay gap compared to other professions.

The Scale of the Crisis

Two-Thirds Working Second Jobs

A comprehensive study by University of Florida researchers found that almost two-thirds of teachers take on second jobs to make ends meet. This represents a dramatic increase from previous years and highlights the growing financial strain on the profession.

The percentage varies by methodology—Pew Research Center reports about 1 in 6 teachers work formal second jobs—but the broader trend is clear: teachers cannot survive on their teaching salaries alone.

The Pay Gap Problem

The financial pressure stems from a widening gap between teacher compensation and what other college-educated professionals earn:

National average starting salary: $46,526 as of April 2025 (National Education Association)
Overall national average teaching salary: Varies significantly by state
Pay gap with other professions: The gap has reached record highs, with teachers earning significantly less than peers with similar education levels

The problem is particularly acute for younger teachers. In states like Michigan, the average starting salary is $41,645—barely above the poverty line for a family of four in many metropolitan areas.

How Teachers Are Coping

Second Jobs During the School Year

Teachers like Ashley work second jobs throughout the school year, often in retail, food service, tutoring, or gig economy roles. These positions typically pay far less than their professional qualifications warrant, but provide essential income.

One teacher quoted in Education Week explained: “It’s rough out here.” The sentiment captures the exhaustion of working a full day in the classroom followed by evening or weekend shifts at second jobs.

Winter Break and Summer Work

For many educators, school breaks are not real time off—they’re opportunities to earn supplemental income. The Washington Post documented teachers working retail jobs, driving rideshare, and taking other temporary positions during winter break.

Pew Research found that teachers earned an average of $3,550 from nonschool summer jobs in 2020-21, representing about 5% of their total annual income. However, those who work multiple extra jobs earned more than $6,000 extra per year—about 11% of their base teaching pay.

The Economic Reality

The financial strain affects every aspect of teachers’ lives:

Housing: Many teachers cannot afford to live in the communities where they teach
Student loans: Educators with advanced degrees face decades of debt repayment
Healthcare: Rising insurance costs consume larger portions of stagnant salaries
Retirement: Many teachers cannot afford to contribute adequately to retirement accounts

Causes of the Crisis

Stagnant Wages vs. Inflation

Teacher salaries have failed to keep pace with inflation over the past two decades. While the cost of housing, healthcare, and education has soared, teacher pay has remained relatively flat when adjusted for inflation.

The Economic Policy Institute has documented a decades-long decline in teacher wages relative to other college-educated workers. By 2026, this gap had reached historic proportions.

Education Funding Cuts

State and local education funding has faced persistent pressure:

Post-pandemic budget constraints: COVID-19 relief funds are expiring
Tax revenue fluctuations: Economic uncertainty affects school budgets
Competing priorities: Schools compete with other services for limited funds

The result: schools cannot afford to pay teachers competitive salaries, even as they struggle to fill positions.

The Teacher Shortage Paradox

The United States faces a significant teacher shortage, yet low pay discourages qualified candidates from entering or staying in the profession. The cycle is self-reinforcing:

Low pay → teachers leave the profession
Shortages → increased workload for remaining teachers
Burnout → more teachers leave
Shortages worsen

The National Council on Teacher Quality has examined whether second jobs contribute to teacher burnout, finding a clear connection between financial stress and professional exhaustion.

Who Is Most Affected

Younger Teachers

Younger teachers are significantly more likely than older colleagues to work second jobs. This reflects:

Lower seniority = lower pay
Higher student loan burdens
Less accumulated savings
Earlier career stages with higher expenses (starting families, buying homes)

Teachers in Low-Pay States

Geographic variation is substantial. States with lower costs of living often have correspondingly lower teacher salaries, but the relationship isn’t perfect. Some states with high costs of living still pay teachers poorly relative to local expenses.

Teachers of Color

Research suggests teachers of color face compounded challenges:

More likely to work in underfunded districts
Often have higher student loan debt
May face additional barriers to advancement

The Impact on Education Quality

Teacher Burnout

Working two jobs while managing classroom responsibilities creates exhaustion that affects teaching quality. Tired teachers cannot bring their best energy to students, and the constant financial stress creates mental burden that affects professional performance.

High Turnover

Financial pressure drives teachers out of the profession. The costs of turnover are substantial:

Recruitment and training: Districts spend thousands per new hire
Lost experience: Veteran teachers take institutional knowledge when they leave
Disruption: Students face constant changes in teaching staff

Teacher Pipeline Concerns

As current teachers struggle financially, prospective teachers take notice. College students considering education careers see the financial reality and choose other paths. The long-term implications for the profession are severe.

Potential Solutions

Salary Increases

The most obvious solution—raising teacher pay—faces budget constraints. However, some states and districts have demonstrated commitment to competitive compensation:

Minimum salary increases in several states
Signing bonuses and retention incentives
Cost-of-living adjustments tied to local expenses

Housing Assistance

Some districts are exploring housing assistance programs:

Subsidized housing near schools
Down payment assistance for home purchases
Housing stipends as part of compensation packages

Student Loan Forgiveness

Expanded loan forgiveness programs could make teaching more financially viable:

Public Service Loan Forgiveness improvements
State-level loan forgiveness for teachers in high-need areas
Targeted programs for teachers of color

Professional Respect

Beyond compensation, teachers need professional respect:

Input on curriculum and policy
Reasonable working conditions
Professional development opportunities
Recognition of expertise

Future Outlook

The teacher financial crisis shows no signs of resolving without significant policy intervention. Several trends will shape the coming years:

Enrollment Declines: Teacher preparation program enrollment continues to fall, suggesting future shortages will worsen.

Political Debates: Education funding remains politically contested, with partisan divides over teacher compensation and union rights.

Economic Uncertainty: Recession concerns could further strain education budgets while increasing demand for public services.

Innovation Pressure: Some districts are experimenting with four-day weeks, compressed schedules, and other innovations to attract teachers within budget constraints.

Conclusion

America’s teachers are working two jobs because one job no longer pays enough to live on. This represents a fundamental failure of social commitment to education—and it has consequences far beyond individual teachers’ bank accounts.

When educators cannot afford to teach, the profession loses talent, experience, and dedication. Students suffer from high turnover and exhausted instructors. Communities lose the stability that strong schools provide.

The solution is not complicated: teachers need salaries that allow them to live on their professional income. The political will to provide those salaries is another matter entirely.

Until America decides that teachers deserve to earn a living wage from their chosen profession, educators will continue driving rideshares, serving coffee, and working retail—anything to keep doing the job they love while barely getting by.

Sources

KRDO — “America’s teachers are working two jobs and barely getting by” — Source
EdSource — “Study finds most teachers work a second job outside of the classroom” — Source
Education Week — “‘It’s Rough Out Here’: Why Most Teachers Work a Second Job and What It Means” — Source
The Washington Post — “The teachers working winter break jobs to make ends meet” — Source
Pew Research Center — “About 1 in 6 US teachers work second jobs” — Source
National Council on Teacher Quality — “Are teachers taking on second jobs—and is it causing burnout?” — Source