Compare the real hourly rate for education professions after commuting, overtime, and hidden expenses. See which education jobs actually pay the best.
| Profession | Salary | Nominal Rate | True Rate | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher (K-12) | $63,000 | $31.50/hr | $20.13/hr | 36% |
| Social Worker | $55,350 | $27.68/hr | $18.39/hr | 34% |
Your Income
Hidden Time
Hours you work for free
Hidden Costs
Money you spend because you have a job
Gas, public transit, or rideshare
What you spend that you wouldn't at home
Tools, certifications, dry cleaning, etc.
Among education professions, teacher (k-12)s have the highest nominal salary at $63,000/year, with a true hourly rate of $20.13/hr. However, jobs with less overtime and shorter commutes may have better true rates relative to their salary.
Education professionals typically lose 25–40% of their nominal hourly rate to hidden costs and unpaid time. The biggest factors are commuting (30–35 min/day), unpaid overtime (4–8 hrs/week), and daily work expenses.
In education, overtime ranges from 4 to 8 hours per week. Higher-paying positions like teacher (k-12) often require more unpaid hours, which significantly reduces the true hourly rate.