Historically, private school teachers have earned less than their public school counterparts. Perhaps that was because years ago teachers would accept a position in a private school for less money simply because they felt that the teaching environment was friendlier. If private school teaching used to be a 'calling', that is not the case anymore. Private schools have had to compete for a smaller pool of well-qualified teachers. Public school teachers' pay has risen markedly. The same is true of private teachers' pay. Indeed private schools now pay very close to what public schools pay.
On the low end of the compensation spectrum are parochial schools. (The 'calling' overtones still exist in religious schools as might be expected.) The well-established independent schools pay the most. But then in most cases, they have been in business for many decades, have enormous endowments and loyal alumni base on which to draw for support. When you peruse these wealthy schools' Forms 990, you begin to understand why they can and do attract the brightest and best in the teaching profession.
Boarding schools typically require faculty to live on campus in school provided housing. Since housing is generally about 25 to 30% of an individual's living expenses, this often is a substantial perk especially in a high cost of housing part of the country such as the northeast or southwest.
Private school pensions now rival those offered in the public sector making that aspect of private school employment quite competitive.
Data
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers data from 2004 showing a range from $26,000 to $71,000 for public school teachers. Assuming a 5% annual inflation rate, the adjusted figures in 2007 would range from $27,300 to $74,550.
Obtaining accurate teacher salary information is as murky a science as discovering the whereabouts of a certain infamous terrorist leader. It's almost impossible because the NAIS keeps that information well-guarded from public view. If your school is a member of NAIS, you will have access to the annual compensation surveys. To give you an idea of what things were like a few years ago in the central states, take a look at ISACS Salaries and Tuition: 2002-2003.
Need more detail and authoritative data sources? The following resources will get you started:
Resources
Salary Calculators and Surveys
Compare teacher salaries with those in other professions and careers. Alison Doyle, About.com's Job Search Guide has all the information you need.
Teacher Salaries and Benefits
The Education Intelligence Agency's research compares teacher salaries with average workers' salaries.
2005 Survey & Analysis of Teacher Salary Trends
"The AFT teacher salary survey for the 2004-05 school year found that the average teacher salary was $47,602, a 2.2 percent increase from the previous year."
Salary Survey Report for All K-12 Teachers
"PayScale is a trusted market leader in online salary and benefit information, providing reliable and accurate compensation data for both employees and employers."
Education America Network
Informative.
