The Sprung Out - Oh, to be seventy again.

[deadlegion]

Well according to this average starting salary was $35,672 a few years ago. Now for the higher ones, such as NY, California, New Jersey and such, factor in the cost of living there, and the average would drop more.

I wasn't questioning if it was accurate/correct or whatever, just saying that isn't good pay.
Yeah, teachers may get good holidays...but they do have to assess stuff outside school hours, organise crap for classes and all. They don't get paid for that.

Really, it's not a good field to work in imo. Unless you're really keen about making a difference educating (or attempting to anyway) kids.
Of course private schools will pay above award, but are generally more picky about their teachers.

No idea what your tax is like there but a gross 40k job should really lose around 10%