Jobs in New York

If you want to impact the lives of students, consider teaching in a shortage area subject or geographic region. 

Teaching in a shortage area allows you to empower marginalized communities while starting a career with job security and options. 

Statewide, New York needs more teachers in areas like math, science, special education and bilingual education. New York City—one of the largest school districts in NY—needs teachers in many subject areas from health education to theater.

In 2021, New York’s average teacher salary was $87,738 (4). Along with financial stability, educators in New York can look forward to comprehensive health benefits, including vision and dental, paid vacation, maternity, and family leave packages, as well as retirement and disability services.

Benefits for Shortage Area Teachers

In New York, teachers who work in shortage areas like bilingual special education may be eligible for loan forgiveness programs. This means you’ll be able to uplift students while receiving financial assistance for your student loans.

Since 2019, New York’s student population has become more racially and ethnically diverse. However, the teacher workplace does not reflect that diversity yet. Roughly 80 percent of educators are white. Teacher and student diversity is more prominent in New York City and the “Big Four” city school districts (Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers). Outside of the Big Four, New York has one teacher of color for every 129 students of color. (5)

Why does teacher diversity matter?

Students need to see people who look like them, in addition to teachers from other backgrounds. Teachers of color have a positive and lasting impact on students who identify with them racially and culturally. 

Students of color benefit over the short and long run when taught by a same-race teacher. This finding is now well established in empirical research. Particularly for Black students, having even one same-race teacher improves test scores, graduation rates, attendance, and behavioral outcomes. (6)

How you can help create more inclusive classrooms

Paraprofessionals, tutors and teachers of color are crucial for the success of the next generation of students. If that could be you, an education position means you could help shape New York’s future and help New York students thrive.

Whatever your background, as a New York educator, you can help create more inclusive classrooms. Students with disabilities, students who are new to the country and students who live in low-income or rural areas especially need strong advocates and imaginative educators.