Salary Expectations and Benefits
Teacher salaries in Ontario, as elsewhere in Canada, are generally based on a combination of years of post-secondary education and years of work experience. Additional allowances are paid to teachers with administrative responsibilities. These may include supervisory roles or management roles in elementary and secondary schools.
In Ontario, each publicly funded school board, through negotiation with the local teachers' union, determines teachers' salaries. The salaries range from approximately $38,000 to $70,000 annually. The increase occurs over a 10- to 13-year period as you add qualifications and gain experience.
In addition to salary, teachers enjoy a number of work benefits, including:
- compassionate leave
- medical insurance
- sick leave
- long-term disability insurance
- maternity leave
- retirement gratuities
- sabbatical and study leave
- life insurance
- dental insurance
- summer vacation
- pension
Where teachers work
Generally, most certified teachers choose to find work in either public or Catholic schools, teaching students from four years old in kindergarten up to teenagers 18 years of age in Grade 12 in a secondary school. A teacher in a secondary school specializes in one or two subjects such as math or English. Teachers in elementary schools will teach all curriculum subjects to the same group of students in their class, including math, English, science, history, and geography. Teachers can also teach in technological secondary schools. Teachers who prefer supervisory roles can move into principal or vice-principal positions by taking appropriate courses, if eligible.
Some teachers use their teaching background in different job-related or career areas. Please see the Related Occupations section for a list of other jobs.