When I first chose my major (psychology) I planned to get
a Ph.D. and become a professor and researcher. After
researching the job market, and life, I've ended up a high
school special ed/social studies teacher (I love it, but
don't see me spending the next 20 years or more as a high
school teacher in a special ed or social studies
classroom). Looking at graduate school options, I'm more
and more becoming interested in teaching at the college
level again.

I love teaching and now I think I'd prefer the community
college or liberal arts college atmosphere because I want
to be a teacher first and researcher second.

However, pay can be a problem. Looking at local community
colleges, their pay scale is similar to that for public
school teachers. By the time I have my doctorate in
education I will have about a decade of teaching
experience.

If I do my MA and doctorate in psychology or history I
would assume I'd start at the beginning of the scale and
get no credit towards salary for my high school teaching
experience. However, if I get my doctorate in education I
was wondering how that works. Many education faculty have
elementary and high school teaching experience, sometimes
quite a few years of experience. Do they usually get
credit on the salary scale for their teaching experience
(since it is related to their academic area) since so many
have extensive teaching experience, or do they have to
start from scratch when they become a professor?

I ask, since I probably won't be able to afford a large
pay cut and I want to know what the standard is for these
things before I start (i.e. if I'll be starting in the
$40's or worse, upper $30s, I may was well pursue a
different direction). I know each college will probably
have its own policies, but I assume there is a general
standard to how most schools handle this situation.

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