“Fighting For Respect” – what a joke!

The average medical and dental benefits per teacher is $10,000 and is paid by the district, although teachers pay about 8 percent of that amount for dependent care. For the private work sector, private workers pay 100% of dependant care v. Chatham teachers’ 8% and while Chatham teachers pay ZERO of their health benefits of the 2/3rds of private co’s that pay for health benefits, the average employee contribution is 25%. Chatham teacher pay ZERO of their health benefits.

The starting salary for a new teacher in Chatham with a bachelor's degree and no experience is $43,630, school district officials said.

After 16 years, a teacher with a master's degree and an additional 60 credits of coursework, makes at least $96,000. The district's current median teacher's salary is $58,000, according to School Superintendent Jim O'Neill. The teachers are on a 10-month work year.
The average private worker in NJ makes $52k per year for A FULL 12 MONTHS OF HARD WORK. The Chatham teacher make therefore the equivalent of $70k per 12 months or +35% greater than the average NJ salary.