Top Stats About Teaching Every Teacher Should know
There have been many surveys and studies conducted since the COVID-19 pandemic that shed light on how America’s teachers are working, what challenges they face, and how the profession itself is evolving.
The National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS) was just one part of this picture — and while it offers deep insight, newer data from multiple research sources give us a broader, more current view of teacher experiences today.
ThinkFives has collected some of the most interesting and actionable findings below so you can reflect, share, and spark discussion among your colleagues and community.
“Teachers are working an average of 49 hours a week.”
According to the 2025 RAND Corporation “State of the American Teacher” survey, teachers reported they work an average of about 49 hours per week.
That’s roughly 10 hours more than they are contracted to work and significantly higher than many other professions, even as this number has ticked down slightly from previous years. Many teachers report that much of this extra time is spent on planning, grading, and administrative tasks.
“Many teachers supplement their base salary with extracurriculars or second jobs.”
Recent research shows that about 1 in 6 U.S. teachers hold a second job outside the classroom, with some working additional teaching-related or unrelated jobs to supplement their income. Teachers earned, on average, several thousand dollars from these extra jobs — an amount that often constitutes a meaningful share of their total income.
“Many Teachers Feel Limited in Decision-Making Influence.”
While specific national statistics on teacher policy influence are limited, survey data and educator reports suggest that a significant majority of teachers feel their input is not sufficiently included in school and district decision-making. Other research has shown that only around 42% of teachers reported feeling satisfied with their level of involvement in school decisions, and that teachers often feel less agency than they would like when policies that affect their classrooms are developed.
“Teacher Shortages and Vacancies Remain Widespread.”
The Learning Policy Institute’s 2025 national scan shows that more than 1 in 8 teaching positions in U.S. public schools are either unfilled or filled by educators who are not fully certified — a strong indicator of ongoing staffing challenges. Special education, science, and mathematics are among the subject areas most commonly reported as having shortages across many states.
“Teacher Diversity Is Increasing Slowly — But Unevenly.”
Although the teaching workforce has become more diverse over the past few decades — with the proportion of teachers of color growing since the late 1980s to around 20% by 2020–21 — progress toward a representative, diverse workforce remains slow, and in some areas the diversity pipeline is struggling. Recent analyses of teacher preparation programs indicate that about 40% of U.S. teacher prep programs are not producing graduating classes as diverse as the populations they serve, which can actually slow growth in teacher diversity overall.
🔍 Why These Stats Matter
These data points highlight key tension points in the teaching profession — workload, compensation needs, lack of voice in policy decisions, staffing shortages, and the slow pace of workforce diversity improvements. Each of these has tangible impacts on teacher retention, student learning, and school culture.
What stands out?
Even as some diversity gains have been made, structural barriers in preparation and hiring continue to slow progress.
Despite some improvements in hours worked and retention intentions, teachers still put in long hours that extend far beyond contractual expectations.
Teachers continue to work second jobs at rates well above many other professions.
Many educators feel their voices are underrepresented in decisions that directly affect classroom practice.
There are ongoing shortages — particularly in high-need subject areas — that affect millions of students.
📣 Your Thoughts?
What surprises you most about these findings?