Is your job high-stress, low-pay?

Smitty, I don't like kids...which is why I don't have any and why I wouldn't want to be a teacher. In response to your questions, I don't get paid for overtime at my job (and I often work weekends). My job does require a university degree in addition to other certifications. And while I do feel the education of future generations is important, I don't believe teachers should be on the list of "high stress, low pay" jobs considering the benefits they receive such as an indexed pension and more time off than most other professions.

Hi I do agree that social workers and therapist do not get paid enough for the things that they deal with especially when working for an agency, etc. I believe that people should be happy that they have a job. I live in London, ON and been unemployed since my work contract ended in July and finding a job with a graduate degree and experience has been very hard unless you want to work for minimum wage.

Physicians in Canada.... we take live's into our hands everyday and get paid a fraction of what our colleague dentists get paid....

to: Elizabeth Bunting. Hear! Hear!. I have had only one good boss out of many so I gave up bosses all together. I have never been happier and I never looked back. :)

I agree with wen - nurses do not get paid well enough at all. Working with infectious diseases - chancing bringing them home to your families - working in a predominantly dominated female occupation (I'm female, and I have always found females to be very difficult with one another) and when you do get sick from the patients - not even being given sick time - I wish I knew this before I went into soooo much debt for four years of friggin' school!!!

I agree that school teachers are molding the future and that should be recognized. Perhaps the reason why we have so many problems with the youth today & why we have children spending so much time on homework is a lack of classroom time, and teacher pupil guidance. "Maybe" if teachers & children were to spend 8 hours per day in a classroom 50 week per year there would be less homework issues and youth crime issues. Perhaps we can try it for the next 10 years & if it doesn't work we can go back to what we are doing now. I mean, if the children are in class they are not out causing problems are they? :-)

If you NEED to bitch about your job, get a new one. It's probably just an underlying sentiment of your day-to-day life. Most people get into an occupation because it's what they want or are able to do. Most jobs have their ups and downs, we need to make the most out of the short time we are here. Especially if you are dealing with people (exceptions of course to those who just want to take advantage of you or your position).

Your list also missed Any one in RETAIL!!

Teachers make more money than most people and have an exceptional amount of time off. If you feel you deserve even more money then don't go into teaching.

I will point out (yet again) that teachers belong on this topic list, given the stress that comes with their job. I know teachers that make far less than their neighbours that work on the line at an automotive plant or garbage collecting in a downtown city (I'm sure they come with their own stresses). It amazes me that people think that a teacher's job ends at 3:30 even if they don't coach. It just demonstrates the ignorance of a population that doesn't value its educators. I don't know how many times I hear the same silly argument, "it must be nice being a teacher...all those holidays, " and in the next breath, "I wouldn't want to do that job!" It would be laughable if it wasn't so sad. I respect teachers, just as I do police officers and nurses etc., I feel people that do these kind of stress filled jobs are to be commended and should be paid better wages. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I wouldn't want to do any of these jobs but I'm so glad there are people who are willing to do them. Here's to putting teachers, nurses and police officers on the list!

Everyone thinks they aren't paid enough but honestly to the teacher who is complaining about being one if you don't enjoy it then leave. Teachers get paid very well, I'm not usre who they thingk they are, their not doctors so I'mnot sure why they think they deserve more money...what's next they want more time off. They only go to school for five years and get more holidays than anyone I know and yet they still complain. They are too funny sometimes.

Derek, I too am in a high-stress job that has me attached to my "Crackberry" constantly (weekends included). I absolutely thrive on the adrenaline of my career and love it. It is a kind of stress that drive me rather than drives me crazy and I am very conscious of the difference! My responses to this thread have maintained my point that teachers belong on the list. It is a simple as that. I'm not naive to think that throughout school and University - I got to where I am today without the help of a teacher (Hell lots of teachers) and I know enough teachers to defend their position on this list. Sorry buddy but we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. (I'm pretty certain they are not paid as much as you seem to think they are - more than you?)

Anyone who thinks teachers work 7-3:30 obviously do not know one well!! The LONG hours a teacher works during the school year easily balance out the holidays (during which, incidently, many teachers spend much of their time working!).

Teacher, definatly NOT!. Film producer, I thought the title said low pay. Was someone drunk when they wrote this?
Lets try doing it right, there are a number of occupations I can think of before those. How about:
-telemartketer --definatly low pay and talk about rejection and stress),
-automotive service advisor --usually low pay and people are really touchy about their cars)
-driving instructor-- nothing needs to be said here, heros all
-waiter, waitresss--people can be terrible to deal with and the pay is terrible, not to mention the creeps
-farm labourer-- chemicals, dangerous animals and machinery and nowadays constant pressure to produce
i really think there are lots of more deserving occupations....I'm not rocket scientist, nor am i drunk.

Thankless IT.

hmmm. I think this list is compiled by americans hmm (CNN) We all know that teachers in the US are underpaid, not sure if that is the case in Canada seeing as you need lots of education to be a teacher, especially a high school one.

Teachers work behind the scenes with lesson preparation more often than people realize. Because many people in society view normal grade schooling as a baby sitting service, it does add to the stress of the job. It also isn't right when teachers are being told by superintendents and eduation directors that they have to be salespeople for education when grade school education is both a right and a responsiblity. Teachers are already doing the responsible thing to make sure rights are protected and promoted. Will the rest of society assume these responsiblity to reduce the stresses they put on teachers knoingly and unknowingly? Any pay raise and pension adjustments these people get in making positive contributions to society must never be questioned.

In terms of this topic, people need to have a reality check as far as the expectations of the job they are in, but others need to give respect to them more often than is done for the fact that they are doing these jobs in the first place. Let's get a proper perspective here. Maybe this way we can lower everyone's stress in the process and build society for the better; for everyone's benefit.

Smitty -- you said it - a teacher is not only a teacher but a social worker, a mediator, a counsellor, a nurse, a mom, a dad, a coach and the list goes on. They SHOULD get paid well for dealing with the multitude of issues that arise day in and day out. And try to plan and teach meaningful- engaging lessons to ensure kids stay on task and absorb ALL the curriculum expectations. Holidays -- yes , teachers get good holidays and they are WELL deserved. Seems to me that those that berate teachers need to spend a day or two or a week within a school to see how much time and effort is put into the education of our future generations.
GO get your degrees - upgrade your skills ( with your OWN money -- not the companies) and attend workshops so you can keep up to date with all that is out there for our kids.
High stress -- I'd say. Low pay, maybe not Well deserved -- ABSOLUTELY.
Many Boards of Education have applications readily available if you would like the role. GOOD LUCK!!!!

You people have no idea about high school teachers--dealing with kids that parents don't want to raise/have time to fix. Kids can't fail these days...we are creating monsters.

Teachers are dealing with kids, some people like kids and all the little noise around them, some people don't. If you don't like it and find it stressful - you are in the wrong fcuking place!!! Nobody forced you to become a teacher and I am sure you knew what you were getting into. Stop bitching!