The unemployment rate across the educational services sector in April 2012. The national jobless rate across all sectors was 8.1%.

(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012)

17% is the projected average growth rate for kindergarten and elementary teaching jobs between 2010 and 2020. For high school teachers, the growth rate is 7% in that same period. Some education jobs, such as enrichment teachers (who instruct in a variety of subjects that students take for fun or self-improvement, such as music and foreign languages. and instructional coordinators (who oversee school districts’ curriculums and teaching standards), have much higher growth rates—21% and 20% respectively. The average growth rate for all occupations is 14%.

(Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013 Edition. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012)

3.7 million

The number of teachers employed by elementary and secondary schools in 2010. This is up from 3.4 million in 2000.

(Source: Digest of Education Statistics. National Center for Education Statistics, 2011)

84%

The percentage, in 2011, of American public school teachers who were female. This was up from 82% in 2005, 74% in 1996, 71% in 1990 and 69% in 1986.

(Source: Profile of Teachers in the US 2011, National Center for Education Information, 2011)

43%

The proportion of teachers who had master’s degrees in education as their highest degree in 2011. Another 12% had master’s degrees in other disciplines.

(Source: Profile of Teachers in the US 2011, National Center for Education Information, 2011)

The student-to-teacher ratio in public schools in 2011, down from 16:1 in 2000

(Source: National Center for Educational Statistics, 2011)

98,800

The number of public schools in the United States in 2009-2010, including 5,000 charter schools. There were 33,300 private schools at this time.

(Source: National Center for Educational Statistics, 2011)

$52,138 and $54,365

The median salaries of American elementary and high school teachers, respectively. (Source: salary.com)

$498

The amount of their own money the average elementary teacher spends per year for resources and materials to use in their classroom. The average secondary teacher spends $386.

(Source: Status of the American Public School Teacher. National Education Association, 2006)

44% percent of teachers say they are very satisfied with their jobs. This has dropped 15 points from 2009, when 59% were very satisfied.

(Source: MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 2012)

The number of hours the average American teacher spends each week on school-related activities.

(Source: Status of the American Public School Teacher. National Education Association, 2006)

The fraction of teachers polled who said that if they could go back in time, they would decide to become teachers again.

(Source: Status of the American Public School Teacher. National Education Association, 2006)