Why do people complain teacher's salaries are so low?

$71,236 is the AVERAGE salary for a teacher in Chicago, and that does NOT include other benefits, back inm 2012.

FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS (CPS) - 2012
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/five_things_you_need_to_know_about_chicago_public_schools_cps/
Chicago public school teachers are already well compensated. By CTU’s own figures median teacher salary is $71,000 (CPS reports the number is $76,000 without benefits). Even if we only compare CPS teachers to others with college degrees, they still do well. According to the US Census American Community Survey, the median annual wage for persons with a college degree is $48,866 in Chicago; $62,352 for a Chicagoan with a graduate or professional degree. CPS teachers earn nearly twice as much as an average worker in Chicago with a college degree.
Note: Average teacher pay at Urban Prep Academy, the Chicago charter school that has sent 100% of its graduates to college for the third consecutive year is $47,714.

Note: CTU walked away from a $400 million package that include a 16 percent raise.

Note: CPS is currently offering a 16% pay increase.

Note: CPS had to return a $35 million federal grant — Teacher Incentive Fund — because CTU refused to implement merit pay. CTU called CPS’ acceptance of the grant a “fraudulent action.”

Well why don't you find out? Go to a high school and attempt to teach arrogant children who legally have to be there but do not care about it at all. Go and plan lessons for hours at a time and then finally after a long hard day at work, go home and do some marking and more lesson planning for 10 + classes. Then once you think that's enough,go and deal with those pathetic parents who have a hard time admitting that their child is not rude and that it is your fault. Teachers take work home with them, it is their responsibility to educate the next gen. Also the college which they go to is a large factor. Oh and those figures do not look accurate to me.

$65k a year in Connecticut doesn't go very far when cost of living is so high. Groceries and health care are 16% higher than the national average, transportation is 19% higher, utilities are 25% higher, and housing is 38% higher. Over all, $65k per year in CT would be comparable to about $45k per year in Oklahoma where I live.

Then look at tuition for schools. A 4-year bachelor's degree at the University of Connecticut is about $25k per year. If you don't have any scholarships, you're looking at about $100k of financial aid. A master's degree can be up to $30k more. Most people pay about 5% per year (not counting interest), so about $6500 per year. Until you have that 8-9 years built up, that's more than 10% of your yearly salary. It all adds up.

I know teachers whose students are on the free/reduced lunch program because of their salary. I don't have any kids, but my rent each month is roughly a third of my paycheck. Utilities are about 15% (higher if I had cable or satellite). My phone bill another 5% (and that's because I just got a cheaper plan). Food and fuel are another 15% of my paycheck. Student loans (for me right now) are about 5%. Barring I don't have medical emergencies or have car problems, that leaves me just over a quarter of my paycheck with which to do other things, like put money into savings, buy clothes, entertainment, wedding/baby gifts, etc.

The cost of living is very high in Connecticut, so salaries are higher.

Now, here's the problem. Many people choose to go into a profession based on the salaries, working conditions, etc. Those who are the brightest and most motivated can choose their majors and their careers. Many are choosing NOT to go into teaching because the salaries are lower than the salaries for other jobs requiring the same education. So what you should be looking at is what people with master's degrees make after 8-9 years. In most cases, it's more than teachers make. In Japan, the top 2% of college students go into teaching. In the U.S. it's the bottom 20%. See a problem there?
Working conditions are also a problem. Teachers are micromanaged now, and have to teach to the standardized test, so have little autonomy. They are, in many cases, essentially baby siting sullen, disobedient kids. And many states are now removing the raises for getting a masters degree, making it harder for teachers to improve their salaries.

thank you for all the answers!

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I don't know. Salaries were recently cut at a local failing district and they had to let go of several teachers because they could not afford them. Now the teachers will have bigger class sizes and the students will have less attention and as a result probably not learn as much. Then the community will wonder what teachers are doing and blah, blah, blah.... Personally I feel that money can only go so far. I get paid very little and feel I am capable of being a great teacher. I am doing what I love, and what pays the bills. No one goes into teaching expecting to get rich. However I also have a lot of parent support...though know of some teachers who do not. I feel parent support (or lack there of) is the problem in recent years. Teachers used to be looked up to. Parents took their advice, asked for help and encouraged their children to do well. But this is not the case with many anymore. Many feel all education stops when the kids leave school, that they have no duties other than keeping the kids clean, safe and fed and teachers should do the rest. I have even heard a story about a parent telling a student to purposely do poorly on the state's standardized test so the school does bad. While this is obviously not the norm, it is a reflection of many in society. As for private schools, many do not pay as well. Many struggle to match public school salaries. Several of my coworkers came from a private (Catholic) schools to ours for better pay and we are one of the lowest in the state. Parent and community support is what we need. Not money....though it is always nice. EDIT- That's a pretty nice starting pay...Where are you working? It starts about 30k around here...on average.

When you look at teacher salaries, be sure you compare them against average salaries overall in the region, and also compare cost-of-living rankings. Some teachers, such as in New York City, may make twice as much as they do in Omaha, Nebraska… but the cost o living is three times as high in New York as Omaha.
Whenever you take a number out of context, such as a salary, you don't see the whole picture.

I don't know where you are getting your numbers or what town you are from, but that is high from what I have experienced.

Ignorance! The USA runs on a capitalistic economic system. Teachers are paid exactly what it requires to hire them. If Town A pays there teachers 5% more than town B, teachers will leave town B and move to town A. Many teaching jobs are unpleasant. Good teachers avoid these jobs. Remember that a few years ago, teachers were mainly unmarried young women. They lived together or boarded with a local family. Present salaries are at a level that attracts enough applicants to fill the requirement.