Teachers' Job Satisfaction

School Administrator, Jan, 1998

The U.S. Department of Education has issued a new report, "Job Satisfaction Among America's Teachers: Effects of Workplace Conditions, Background Characteristics and Teacher Compensation."

Among the study's findings:

* Administrative support, school atmosphere and teacher autonomy are working conditions directly contributing to job satisfaction;

* Younger and less experienced teachers in public schools have higher satisfaction than older and more experienced teachers;

* Teacher satisfaction showed a positive though weak relationship with salary and benefits; and

* The most satisfied secondary school teachers felt they had more parental support and were less likely to have been threatened by students.