Engineering firm? Gov't Contracts? Teacher Salary? (Chicago, Aurora: low income, crime, home)

[B2O2C]

Though we have decided to put our move to IL from FL on hold, we are still doing research.

My husband is an Engineer and has a steady gov't job here. Does anyone know of some Engineering firms in IL... preferably in the suburbs though not necessarily? Also, other than Boeing, are there any other gov't contracts out there for Engineering firms?

I'm a teacher and was curious as to the salarys and job prospects for both CPS and the surrounding areas?

Thanks in Advance!

[chet everett]

You probably do not want to work for CPS, salaries and working conditions are better in the burbs.

Chicago is home to Corp HQ of Boeing, but few engineering jobs of Boeing are located away from their design and manufaturing bases, which are not in Illinois.

There are, however, many other large engineering employers that have sizable presence in IL, from well known heavy equipment firms in the western part of the IL, to chemical /oil companies like BP and others, to food manufacturers, to constuction firms, and contract process engineering consulants. There are also some jobs with the various regional offices of federal agencies, and a handful of governmnet contractors like Northup Gruman.

The standard online site are useful, including USAJOBS and monster...

[chitown85]

Some of the suburban high school districts start as high as $48K per year, just as a base salary, more with summer school, etc.

The elementary/middle school districts tend to be lower, but still pretty good compared to other states.

CPS pays one of the lowest starting salaries of any school system in Chicagoland.

The NW, North, and West suburban (Cook + Lake+ DuPage) districts pay the most.

[chet everett]

[quote=chitown85;9871175]Some of the suburban high school districts start as high as $48K per year, just as a base salary, more with summer school, etc.

The elementary/middle school districts tend to be lower, but still pretty good compared to other states.

CPS pays one of the lowest starting salaries of any school system in Chicagoland.

The NW, North, and West suburban (Cook + Lake+ DuPage) districts pay the most.[/quote]

My data does not agree with this: Why Teach At CPS? - Teacher Salary

Champion News - Setting the Standard (http://www.championnews.net/salaries.php - broken link)

http://www.championnews.net/district.php?did=10236&year=2008&sort=salary (broken link)

http://www.championnews.net/district.php?did=10101&year=2008&sort=salary (broken link)

http://www.championnews.net/district.php?did=10214&year=2008&sort=salary (broken link)

[MannheimMadman]

People get their facts wrong about CPS salary all the time. They pay very, very well imho. I've been trying to get a job here, but no such luck

[B2O2C]

Wow thanks.... all that was really helpful!

When I decided to be a teacher, it certainly wasn't for the money so I'm ok with working in the city since I believe many good teachers leave, leaving the city kids with too many mediocre teachers (not to say there aren't awesome teachers in the city) but my passion is for urban kids so we'll see what the future holds.

As for the engineering firms, thanks... his salary will be supporting us alone for a while if all goes as planned so that part of the plan is vitally important! Thanks a lot people :-)

[chet everett]

There are lots of "urban districts" outside of Chicago Public Schools. From the fringes of the Metro area where former manufacturing / industrial towns like Joliet, Aurora, Waukegan and Elgin have fractured urban cores to towns that border Chicago and have legacy of crime and neglect the region has plenty of places that would be eager to have the skills of teacher skilled in educating those with great challenges. If you have a passion to help those in a poor performing district that pay well or poor performing districts that have misrable pay and working conditions those are choices you are free to make.

The districts that have the lowest EAV per child and the highest tax rate tend to also have the lowest salary. Mostly these are also areas with high percentages of low income children, low parental involvement, a high percentage of non-native English speakers and other challenges.

CPS has many students and entire schools that have none of these problems, of course CPS also has a residency requirement for its employees which no other district in Illinois has.

Good Luck!