Salary is one major factor long linked to teacher morale. In an effort to look more holistically at the forces influencing educators’ satisfaction on the job, the EdWeek Research Center asked about factors other than salary that teachers thought would improve their morale.
Some of these factors, like smaller class sizes, show more variation among the states than others, likely a result of different local contexts and policies. A majority of teachers did say they wanted smaller classes—around 19 students—rather than the current 25 students per classroom.
Two considerations that teachers consistently selected across states as more likely to help boost their morale are more planning time and changes to student discipline.
Because teachers’ salary expectations are often relational—in other words, held in comparison to what friends and family members make—we also asked about that comparison. Most teachers did not feel that that their salaries stacked up to those of their closest relations.
In addition, the EdWeek Research Center survey shows that most teachers report earning money outside of teaching. The the U.S. average for income derived outside of teaching stands at about $4,500, though the variation across states was often significant.
See more state-by-state data on teachers from the report
About the survey that powers these results
For the state-by-state results, a total of 5,802 teachers responded to a nationally representative online survey designed by the EdWeek Research Center, which included a total of 30 questions about the profession.
Results can be tracked over time and reported by subgroup—such as locale or years of teaching experience.
Read Next: Data From 50 States: Teachers’ Views of How the Profession Is Seen—And Their Own Career Plans