Florida Is One Of The Worst States to Pursue a Teaching Career

Summer is flying by fast, the kids in Florida have just over a month left before returning to classes. But what are they returning to? We need more teachers, which means encouraging people to pursue a teaching career. The Florida Education Association reported 7,553 advertised openings in Florida as of January 17, 2024. Teachers are leaving, and there's no one to replace them.

Openings in Southwest Florida, as reported by Gulfshore Life, include "Collier County with 174 advertised instructional vacancies, Lee County had 260 and Charlotte County had just 25 openings."

According to FDOE, these are the teachers needed the most in Florida:

ESE • English • Science-General • Math • Science-Physical • ESOL • Science-Earth & Space

*Exceptional Student Education is specially designed instruction and related services that are provided to students with disabilities and students who are identified as gifted.

That's what we need in Florida. But teaching can be a tough job. And those pursuing a teaching career have options. Every state is competing to lure the best teachers, but it seems Florida is falling behind.

For someone just starting out on their teaching career, not only will they need to take the state-specific certification test, but will also be settling into a particular city and school community for a while. Education researchers at UTS Online, an online university, compiled a list of the best states for teachers in the US. The study considered 19 key factors that can make a difference for teachers, including average teacher wages, teacher pensions, pupil/teacher ratios, student performance and school safety. The 19 factors were then used to create a "score".

Louisiana ranks last on the list with a 35.97 score. Teacher compensation in the state falls short of the national average, and Louisiana also has a relatively small teacher workforce, with only 902 teachers per 100,000 residents.

Locally, Florida's teacher situation closely mirrors the national bottom, with a 38.30 score. The state ranks second-to-last in the nation for teacher employment and preparation. This translates to a significant teacher shortage in Florida, with only 682 teachers per 100,000 residents. Additionally, unlike some states, Florida doesn't offer tenure protections for teachers, which can affect job security.

While Florida offers teacher pensions of around $19,765, this benefit alone might not outweigh the other challenges educators face in Florida. Like housing. Let's take a look at all 50 states.

Massachusetts is the top state for teachers in the U.S. First and foremost, the state boasts the best student performance results in the nation. They have the highest percentage of bachelor's degrees, the top scores in 8th-grade NAEP math, and rank in the top 3 for 8th-grade NAEP reading scores. The state’s high-quality education is certainly alluring for teachers and recent college graduates pursuing a teaching career.

On top of stellar student performance, Massachusetts incentivizes teachers with one of the highest average salaries in the nation, ranking 6th after considering living costs. But it’s not just about paycheck. With a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 12, one of the lowest in the country, Massachusetts teachers have more time to give each student the individual attention they deserve.

The bottom line is, Florida needs to do a better job at attracting teachers. And this problem doesn't just matter to those who have kids - but all residents. A kid with an education and the promise of a future is much less likely to get into trouble. It's the kids that feel they have nothing to lose that are walking through your gated community jiggling car handles to see if any of the cars are unlocked.

Remote jobs are still a big trend, even following the pandemic. So, what are the most in-demand, high-paying remote jobs out there right now? For those who would rather work at home, the good news is that there are more options today than there were in the past. During the pandemic, many companies discovered that employing remote workers had benefits to them, including savings in infrastructure and other costs. Many workers discovered that it fit their lifestyles and personalities, too. So, it's a win-win for a certain segment of the population.

Before we get into those in-demand, high-paying remote jobs, let's look at some companies that are actively hiring remote workers. The experts at Forbes.com have a new feature out highlighting some companies that are looking for remote workers right now. No. 1 on the list is GitLab, which they describe as "an AI-powered DevSecOps platform that allows software developers to collaborate and deliver projects with full compliance and security." They add that GitLab currently has more than 100 remote job openings available in a variety of departments, including sales, marketing product and user experience, engineering, security, admin, HR, legal and more. Another big one on Forbes.com's tally is Buffer at No. 2. Buffer is a social media marketing software company. According to the article, they're "actively seeking to add to their remote team with roles for a senior front-end and senior back-end engineer." Other choice companies include Automattic, Toggle and Kona. A separate Forbes.com article also cites Canonical, Veeva and Invisible Technologies as companies hiring remote workers. So, the jobs are out there, but you might be working with a company that you're not familiar with yet.

It's also worth noting that salaries in 2024 are not what they were years ago. A new study from the experts at Ladders revealed some interesting information about salaries in 2024 and what they can actually buy. According to the study, if you want to have the buying power of a job that had an annual salary of $100,000 in 1994, you would need to pull in more than $200,000 a year in 2024. So, it shows how inflation has impacted the buying power of salaries over the past three decades. Also, the same study notes that while finding a job that pays more than $100,000 a year that's also a remote job is more difficult today than it was a few years ago, one industry that is leading the way in remote jobs is fintech, which stands for financial technology. But, it doesn't stop at fintech. Let's get into the best industries to find in-demand, high-paying remote jobs, from sources such as Money.USNews.com, CNBC.com and more.

Did you know that reviewing documents can make big bucks? According to CNBC.com, being a document reviewer can pay an average salary of $123,427. They also say it's one of the most in-demand remote jobs of the moment.

A different Forbes.com article says software engineers are an in-demand, high-paying remote option. "Software engineers are the backbone of fintechs," they explain, "and plays a crucial role in developing software for financial solutions, being the brains behind innovative financial products including emerging spaces such as blockchain and AI, and developing and integrating APIs while ensuring the products are compliant with financial regulations and are optimized for security."

The experts at Money.USNews.com have web developer as an in-demand remote job, making a median salary of $78,580. They note that the education required is a bachelor's degree. "Web developers maintain, troubleshoot and create websites to ensure they’re effective for business, health care, technology, education or whatever service they provide," they state.

The same Money.USNews.com article says their pick for the best remote job is financial manager. They make a median salary of $139,790. "They keep an eye on the finances of an organization and make reports on financial activity," they note. There are other jobs in the financial sector that are also great for remote workers, such as being an accountant or financial planner.

One hot job for remote talent, according to Forbes.com, is a content writer. So, what does a content writer do? "Content writers create written content for various platforms such as websites, blogs, and email marketing, which engages and informs audiences, with the goal of making sales and increasing brand awareness," they explain.

Believe it or not, being a general physician can be a great remote job. According to Insider Money (via MSN.com), general physicians make around $110 per hour. "A remote general physician provides medical care to patients via telecommunications technologies, offering consultations, diagnoses, and treatment recommendations remotely," they explain.

Forbes.com notes that being an editor is a good remote gig. "Remote editors work for magazines and journals, and other news publications, and they review and sometimes revise content to ensure accuracy and that the correct writing style is adhered to," they explain. They add that editors also make sure that "content meets publication guidelines."

If you're good with social media and have the professional history to prove it, being a social media manager could be a great remote role for you. According to CNBC.com, the average social media manager makes $81,329 annually. For this job, you have to keep up with all of the latest social media trends.

Many tech companies hire remote workers. For one, many of them are startups, so they don't want to spend money on the infrastructure of having people in an office. But, in general, tech jobs line up very well with remote work. According to Tech.co, Apple is a big one hiring right now.