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Salaries for Connecticut Teachers

Connecticut has plenty to offer teachers. In 2020, Connecticut’s average salary for beginning teachers was $46,905, and the average salary for all teachers was around $79,742. And, most teacher salaries are on the rise. From 2019 to 2020, Connecticut’s average teacher salaries rose by 5.5 percent. (3) That’s some of the fastest-growing and average salaries in the nation!

In Connecticut, like most states, starting salaries vary by district. They also may depend on your experience. You’ll earn a higher starting salary with a master’s degree than you will with a bachelor’s.

Benefits for Shortage Area Teachers

Teachers in shortage areas often qualify for extra financial aid and other perks. Many schools also offer additional pay or signing bonuses to teachers working in these subjects. The Connecticut Teachers Mortgage Assistance Program offers lower interest rate loans to help teachers in subject shortage areas become homeowners.

Benefits for All Teachers

In Connecticut, teachers receive comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance—plus secure retirement plans and vacation time. There are a number of ways you can increase your teaching salary, including advanced degrees, leading extracurriculars and pursuing advanced certifications or meeting performance benchmarks.

It’s not hard to see why Connecticut is an attractive state for many people. A rising job market combined with low cost-of-living and great weather make Connecticut a great choice for starting a career, building a life, and raising your family.

(6) ‘Life in Connecticut offers a dynamic blend of the active and relaxing, the natural and cultural, the historical and innovative. Here you'll also find a mix of city and country living options. It's this complementary balance that makes Connecticut such an ideal place to make a great living — while also creating a rewarding life” 

Consider these facts:

• Living in Connecticut is more affordable than in many other states.(6)
• From grade school to college and graduate schools, education is a priority for Connecticut residents. (6)
• Students have access to all of Connecticut’s top universities.
• Connecticut has always been open and welcoming to all communities, including the LGBTQ communities, as the 2nd state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage. (6)

In a teaching residency or internship, you’ll work full- or part-time in a school and work toward your credential through a teacher preparation program. You’ll also take classes, have one-on-one mentors, and meet other certification requirements. Internships and residencies generally last at least one full school year. They are also usually meant to help districts staff harder-to-fill positions in subjects such as STEM and special education.

With an internship, you’ll earn tuition discounts and extra experience prior to completing a required student teaching placement at the undergraduate or graduate level. With a residency, you’ll earn a salary or hourly income and this experience meets your student teaching requirement. Residencies are generally meant for mature educators with a bachelor’s degree who may have classroom experience and just need their official teaching certification.

Some CT teacher preparation programs with residency or internship options include: CT Teacher Residency Program, Fairfield University, Relay Connecticut, Sacred Heart University, and the University of Bridgeport.

A paraeducator works in a classroom under an assigned teacher.  What they do varies depending on the school's needs, the grade level, and what the students need on any given day. Typical work for a paraprofessional might include:

• Working one-on-one with students to reinforce the day's lessons and answer questions.
• Taking attendance.
• Grading assignments.
• Setting up the classroom for projects and presentations.
• Supervising kids during recess or on school trips.
• Developing lessons.

Being a substitute allows you to work in more than one type of classroom. You can gain experience in a wide variety of subjects. Substitute teaching also provides valuable skills for the classroom, such as problem-solving, time management, and experience working with kids.

On average, substitute teachers who are CT certified are paid at a rate of $95 - $230 per day depending on the assignment length. To become a daily or short-term substitute teacher in Connecticut, you must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma (or equivalent) and experience with school-age children. You’ll work no more than 40 days in the same assignment.

To become a long-term substitute teacher in Connecticut, you must have a bachelor’s degree and 12 credits in the content/area to be taught. Long-term substitute teachers cover long term assignments such as medical and maternity leave, for 40 or more days.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you may be able to teach full-time, with salary and benefits, while working towards your certification under a Durational Shortage Area Permit, or DSAP. To be eligible for a DSAP, you must also: 1) be enrolled in any state-approved teacher preparation program, 2) want to teach in a subject area where teachers are most needed, 3) receive support from your prep program and employing school district to apply for the permit. 

Subjects where teachers are most needed include middle/high school STEM or world languages, Special Education, Bilingual Education, or Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL). 

To be eligible, you’d take these three steps (in this order): 1) Apply for and enroll in a CT teacher prep program, 2) Apply for and accept a CT public school teaching job, 3) Work with your program and employer to secure a Durational Shortage Area Permit (DSAP)