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It’s no secret that being a public school teacher isn’t exactly known for being the most lucrative profession, so much so that it’s preventing many from buying houses and simply keeping up with rising costs.
Perhaps no one knows this better than Kristen, a Florida middle school teacher who recently ranted about the topic in a TikTok video: “My small rant about teacher’s pay,” in which she details how her salary has not caught up to her home’s increasing value,” overlay text on the video read.
“My home was purchased in 2016 for around $160,000,” said Kristen (@kristen_fl). “My income as a teacher at that time was about $40,000. Today, in 2025, my home is worth about $350 to $360,000. My income as a teacher — with a masters’ — is about $54,000.”
“How are people buying homes?” she continued. “How are people purchasing homes at these prices?”
This frustrated teacher seems to have a point. While some states have given teachers a generous bump in their pay, the average national teacher’s salary in the U.S., $72,030, has struggled to keep up with inflation, according to the National Education Association.
Only Oklahoma (10.5%), Idaho (9.1%) and Utah (8.9%) had the largest one-year increases, according to NEA.
And according to their data, teachers are making 5% less in pay than they were a decade ago.
Several commenters on the viral vid, which has received over 20,000 views to date, agreed with Kristen’s self-described “rant,” with some presumed teachers sharing that they aren’t purchasing homes right now either.
“We can’t afford the houses, so we are having to work two jobs just to pay for apartment rent. I’m tired,” commented a fellow teacher.
“I haven’t had a raise in 9 years,” added another. “Our step raises in Georgia stop after year 19. We built our house in 2002, and couldn’t afford to build/buy the exact same house (today). It’s become our forever home.”
Other commenters, however, disagreed with or mocked Kristen’s assessment that teacher pay does not adequately keep up with home values.
“Surrounded by teachers. All own their own homes,” said @gendron123. “Two are my single sisters. Embarrassing a teacher has to ask how to do it.”
“Didn’t you know the pay before you went to school to become a teacher,” asked @tonyskiski.
Kristen then emphasized that while no one should go into teaching for the money (or lack thereof), it’s a great career for those who want to enrich their students’ lives.
“If you want to become a teacher, do it because you want to make a difference in a child’s life,” said Kristen. “Do it because you want to enhance, quite literally, the future of the United States. Don’t do it for the money. There is no money in this profession.”
