Choosing the right career is no easy feat. On one hand, you want a career that will compensate you well, and enable you to have a comfortable lifestyle. You likely also want to find work in an area you are interested or even passionate about, and that you are motivated to study. You may also want a career that offers stability even in uncertain economic times. Another thing to consider is a work-life balance. Perhaps you want a job that will give you the freedom to pursue personal interests or raise a family.
Checking all of these criteria can be difficult for science and chemistry majors. There are lots of career options in the sciences, such as being a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, scientist, or researcher, but getting these jobs can be tough for a variety of reasons. For example, you may live in an area where there aren't any laboratories or pharmaceutical companies. You may not be interested in pursuing the many years of additional study required to become a healthcare professional. You may not be interested in studying science or chemistry beyond what you have achieved in your undergraduate years.
This is why becoming a science or chemistry educator is a great option. Educators are needed in nearly every region in Canada because schools are ubiquitous. Teaching is also one of the most stable jobs out there, and as a public school teacher you will likely be in a union where your position and seniority are protected. Teaching is also a career that gives you lots of options as a parent, since you will have summers off and can usually leave work after instructional hours.
If you are wondering whether or not a career as a chemistry educator is right for you, then you are reading the right article. We will explore the profession of science and chemistry teaching, and how you can make this career yours. First, let's explore exactly how much money you can make as a chemistry educator.
While it is often assumed that chemistry and science majors go on to work in laboratories or as scientists, the reality is that many of these students also choose to pursue teaching. Find out more about becoming a chemistry educator.
How much Will I Make as a Chemistry Educator?
The first thing you are probably wondering is whether or not you can make a comfortable living as a science or chemistry educator. How much you make will largely depend on a number of factors, including:
- What role you have as an educator (ex. a teacher or a tutor)
- Which organization or company your work for
- The cost of living in your province of residence
- How many extra hours you work
- How many years of experience you have
Generally speaking, you can expect to make an above average salary as a teacher in a public board. Here is a list of average salaries you might make organized by province after 10 years of experience (excluding Nunavut).
- Newfoundland and Labrador: $92,234
- Prince Edward Island: $88,106
- Nova Scotia: $84,405
- New Brunswick: $77,837
- Ontario: $98,936
- Quebec: $65,712
- Manitoba: $90,826
- Alberta: $94,103
- Saskatchewan: $85,896
- British Columbia: $87,900
- Northwest Territories: $109,304
Is it Difficult to Teach Lessons in Chemistry?
Teaching any subject is challenging, and chemistry is certainly no exception. As a teacher, you will have to do a number of tasks: planning lessons, managing classroom behaviour, coordinating resources, keeping up with professional learning, attending staff meetings, and collaborating with colleagues.
As difficult as that may sound, you can feel confident in knowing that the work you will be doing is fun, rewarding, and will keep you on your toes. You are sharing knowledge, facilitating learning, and inspiring the next generation of scientists, which is exciting! Your students will also be some of the most engaged learners you will ever meet, and if you love working with other people you will find teaching highly stimulating.
Another thing you can count on as a chemistry teacher is having the support of your colleagues. Work with your colleagues to co-plan and co-teach units of study, gather materials for labs, and develop curriculum for students with special needs or are English language learners. Teaching is a collaborative and communal profession, and you can build a large professional network in your school and with the larger educator community across the province and country. Attend conferences, join professional book clubs, and be active in your union, and you will find yourself with a whole slew of opportunities to grow your career and buiild relationships.
While many chemistry students may imagine themselves working in a lab throughout their career, the reality is that they have many options to choose from. Learn more about chemistry educator careers.
What is the Differences Between a Chemistry Tutor and Teacher?
While we have so far explored the job and pay scale of a chemistry or science teacher, the option of becoming a tutor can be particularly intriguing. A tutor is a type of educator that works with individual students or small groups instead of entire classes. It can be a great way to get into teaching without having all the qualifications and commitment. You can work as a tutor part time if you are still in school, and can tutor to supplement your income if you are already a teacher.
What does a tutor do? A tutor works with individuals and small groups to help them excel in a class. In some cases, the subject may represent an area of difficulty for the student, or is a subject that a student wants to do particularly well in. For example, if you are looking to get into medical school and need competitive grades, you might hire a tutor to ensure that you are getting the most from your learning. A tutor will review new concepts, prepare students for tests, help them with projects, and provide feedback on different assignments.
Chemistry teachers are a very unique group. Their knowledge is essential for fields that include engineering, medicine, manufacturing, and government. Learn more about becoming a chemistry educator or tutor!
Do I Need a Teaching Qualification to Become a Tutor for Chemistry?
Unlike a teacher, a tutor does not require a teaching qualification, though it can certainly help. Some students, such as high school students, may hire a tutor to help them in their classes. In these cases, you may still be working on your own science degree. The same goes for elementary students: an appoprirate tutor may still be in high school.
Chemistry tutors will typically work with older students because the subject is not studied as a standalone topic until the senior grades of high school. Therefore, most chemistry tutors should already have a chemistry degree or are working toward completing one. If you are on a journey toward becoming a chemistry teacher, you may find that having tutoring experience can bolster your resume or application for teacher's college.
Being an educator is an excellent role for those who do not want to work a typical 9-5 job. So what kinds of careers are available for science educators? Learn more about what experiences you need to prepare for a role as a chemistry teacher.
How do Chemistry Tutors find Jobs?
Chemistry tutors can find jobs easily through Superprof Canada. Superprof is a site that connects tutors with students in all different subjects, including chemistry. If you feel confident tutoring in another area in addition to chemistry, such as mathematics, you may opt to include that in your tutoring profile.
On Superprof, tutors share their availability and skillsets by writing profiles that include their photos. You may want to share your area of expertise, rate of pay, which ages or grades of students you want to work with, and anything else about your teaching style or philosophy of education. Students and their families can connect with you directly through the site, and you can communicate with them to determine if you can make an arrangement work. You may choose to work with the student safely in person, or virtually.
As challenging as chemistry teaching may be, it is one of the most fun and rewarding professions. Learn how you can start your career pathway as a chemistry teacher.
Is it Possible to Work as a Chemistry Tutor Online?
It is absolutely possible to work as a chemistry tutor online! Online learning has become one of the most popular ways to work and learn. As an online tutor, you can work with students across the whole country without leaving the comfort of your home office. To be an effective online tutor, you will want to have a firm grasp of the digital resources available to you, a strong internet connection, and a setup or workspace that is conducive to demonstrating lab activities.
Why delay your career? Set up a tutor profile on Superprof Canada today.
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