Become a Teacher in New York

New York has an Alternative Teacher Preparation Program targeted at mid-career and career-changing professionals. This program consists of an introductory section followed by certification tests and then mentored, paid employment as a teacher. New York City also offers the New York City Teaching Fellows program, which is a subsidized master’s degree fellowship targeted at increasing the number of highly trained teachers in the NYC public school system.

Jobs for all of New York State can be found at the New York Online Application System for Educators. The New York City Department of Education also provides a step-by-step guide to getting a teaching job in New York City.

Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.

The average school teacher in New York makes around $83,000 – $85,000 per year depending on grade level, according to 2018 Bureau of Labor Statistics data. New York is one of the highest-paying states in which to teach, and also offers differential pay for teachers working in high-needs schools or shortage subjects.

Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.

Benefits attached to education and teaching jobs can vary in New York State. New York City currently provides full-time teachers with health insurance coverage. Retirement in New York State is handled by the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System. Retirement in New York City is handled by the New York City Teachers’ Retirement System and the New York City Board of Education Retirement System.

Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.

A teacher shortage occurs when there are not enough teachers in key subject areas, which has been partly caused by years of teacher layoffs during the Great Recession, a growing student population and fewer people entering teacher preparation programs, according to the Learning Policy Institute.

The following is a list of teacher shortage areas in New York for the 2020-21 school year as reported by the U.S. Department of Education. (see page 130)

New York residents are eligible for the Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship as well as the TEACH Grant, a grant that gives financial aid to students in return for an agreement to teach in a high-need field in a low-income area.

Learn more about how to finance your Master’s degree on Teach.com.

New York State professional development programs include teacher mentorship programs and the NYS Teacher Resource and Computer Training Centers. New York City offers in-service courses for teachers through the NYC After School Professional Development Program. Credits earned through this program can be counted towards both salary differentials and professional development requirements. Programs are also available to paraprofessional educators, including the Summer Stipend Program, through which paraprofessionals can receive a financial incentive for college credits earned over the summer.

According to the New York State Department of Education, teachers holding a Professional Certificate in New York must complete at least 175 hours of professional development activities during each 5-year licensing period.

Experience isn’t the only important aspect of measuring the ability to teach. After No Child Left Behind and other academic quantification measures have been put in place, the careers of teachers increasingly depend on results in the classroom. A master’s degree in the field of education can give teachers more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more hands-on student teaching experience alongside a mentor. After completing a Master’s program, teachers may have more job security and receive higher pay.

Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.