After working from 6:30 am to 5:30 (an 11 hour workday) and then working an additional 2 hours at home (making for a 13 hour workday), I decided to do the math.  This equates to a 65 hour work week.  I know I am not alone.  Most teachers work more than a 40 hour work week.

Photo by paul (dex)

According to statistics cited in an NEA article “Myths and Facts about Educator Pay“, teachers work an average of 50 hours a week.  It is not hard for me to imagine that this statistic is lower than the time actually spent by teachers.  I am sure I would under-calculate the time I actually work if asked because I usually don’t keep track, and quite honestly, I would be sheepish to provide a true answer.  I love my profession and I spend a LOT of time on it!

So, to nail my point home.

Teacher

• 50 hours a week x 10 months * 4 weeks each month yields 2,000 working hours a year.

Average Worker

• 40 hours a week x 12 months *4 weeks each month (- 2 weeks for vacation time) yields 2,000 working hours a year.  National statistics for the average worker are comparable to my estimation and actually fall short of 2,000 hours a year.

So, in summation – teachers work an entire year, but manage to do it in 10 months instead of 12.  We are super human!