Does a teacher get overtime pay?

Answer 1

Teachers are not underpaid, but many believe that they are. Everybody has a hard job, teachers included. Many people in every profession tend to take the attitude, "If you could just try my job for a day, you'd say I deserve more". Everybody believes their job deserves more money, teachers included. However, consider the following...

Public school teacher unions are able to negotiate for very generous pensions and health care benefits, which many private sector jobs don't have. Teachers don't have to spend three to seven years in training, taking on more student debt, after undergraduate college, like doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, psychologists, economists, etc. The majority of teaching positions require a four-year education degree and relevant certification. Teachers don't have to spend extended periods away from their families on the other side of the world, in life-or-death situations, like soldiers. Teachers don't have to risk their lives to run into a burning building, like firefighters, who often earn less money than teachers. Public school teachers still make significantly more than private religious school teachers who do exactly the same work. I attended a religious high school where the teachers earned $21,000/year + benefits at a time when the median public teacher salary in that city was about $37,000 + benefits. Teachers don't spend their entire lives pursuing a career where only a small select few people ever succeed, such as professional artists, athletes, and entertainers. The majority of teachers tend to find stable jobs soon after graduation. Teachers with good skills have excellent job security, knowing that there will always be a market for their skills because there will always be children to teach. This certainty does not exist in many manufacturing- and technology-related jobs where workers have to wonder if there will still be a market for their skills. Teachers who have children in school tend to get the same days off as their kids (holidy breaks, extended summer breaks, etc), allowing more days and weeks of family time than other jobs where workers only have 10 vacation days and a few holidays. Yes, teachers deserve a fair wage and recognition for the hard work they contribute to our society. But so do all positions in our economy. Everybody's work is valuale.

Answer 2

In most cases the answer is NO. This is because there is a specific exemption under federal wage and hour law that says that teachers are "exempt" (not entitled to overtime pay) if their primary duty is teaching, tutoring, instructing or lecturing in the activity of imparting knowledge, and if they are employed and engaged in this activity as a teacher in an educational establishment. Exempt teachers include, but are not limited to, regular academic teachers; kindergarten or nursery school teachers; teachers of gifted or disabled children; teachers of skilled and semi-skilled trades and occupations; teachers engaged in automobile driving instruction; aircraft flight instructors; home economics teachers; and vocal or instrument music teachers.

In addition, the usual minimum salary requirements do not apply to covered teachers.