Start Teaching in Sacramento
As one of the largest cities in California, it should come as no surprise that education is extremely important in the city of Sacramento. This area is home to the Sacramento City Unified School District, the 11th-largest school district in California. It has 81 schools and the district’s 3,000 teachers serve nearly 48,000 students. With nearly 514,000 people living in Sacramento, education is incredibly important for the city’s future. If you want to enter the field of education, request information from schools in your area to compare programs!
If you’re considering becoming a teacher in this region, now could be an excellent time to get started in this profession. The Sacramento Bee reports that the governor hopes to increase spending in the K-12 arena.
You may be able to choose from many large colleges and universities in the Sacramento area. Local educational institutions include California State University, the University of Sacramento, and MTI College. Learn more about teacher education programs in Sacramento to decide if this is the right career path for you.
What it’s Like to Be a Teacher in Sacramento
As a teacher or teaching student in Sacramento, you may be able to take advantage of the membership opportunities offered by the area’s many teaching organizations. The Sacramento City Teachers Associationis one of the largest membership-based associations in the area. On a larger scale, you may be interested in joining the California Teachers Association. Many organizations are specific to different teaching subjects. For example, the California Science Teachers Association supports biology, chemistry, and general science teachers. The California Music Educators Association is an excellent professional resource for those who teach music in grades K-12.
Taking some time to look into the various teaching certification options in Sacramento can help you choose the degree option that’s best for your career. If you want to add on to an existing teaching license or certificate, consider earning a Master’s degree or a certification program for working teachers. Alternative certification programs are designed for graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in a non-education field. Of course, you can also choose to get a Bachelor’s degree in education.
Outlook for Teaching Jobs in Sacramento
Since California is one of the most heavily-populated states in the country, it’s obvious that the state needs a lot of teachers to run smoothly. In fact, California has the highest employment level for kindergarten teachers in the entire country (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013). For elementary school teachers, their employment level is second-highest in the country (BLS, 2013). California also has extremely high employment levels for both middle school teachers and high school teachers.
Teaching salaries in Sacramento tend to be fairly similar across levels of education, although in general, teaching salaries are higher here than the national average (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012). Kindergarten teachers bring in an average of $63,280 per year, while elementary school teachers have an average salary of $66,120 per year (BLS, 2013). Those who teach at the middle school level have a median income of $63,190 per year and high school teachers report a median salary of $67,130 annually (BLS, 2013).
The field of teaching is growing constantly, creating opportunities for those who are dedicated to the improvement of education in California. If you’re ready to begin, check out our program listings for education programs for California students!