Abstract
This quantitative study unpacks the relationship between teacher exit, wage competitiveness, and working conditions. Leveraging the nationally-representative 2011-12 Schools and Staffing Survey, the study tests the theory that U.S. states oblige districts to freeride on their teachers, extracting as much value for labor as individuals will tolerate. Centering these structural issues instead of individual teacher decisions remains underrepresented in the field.
The author finds that 2011-12 U.S. teacher wages required an increase of $16,000 (33%) to reach wage parity with similar professionals. Working conditions most strongly related to teacher exit propensity, however, wage competitiveness also associated significantly for teachers moving to new school sites. A wage parity gap of $15,000/year (+1SD) correlated with an 18% increase in marginal attrition propensity.