A Florida teacher just gave the most brutal career advice ever, she warns aspiring educators they will never achieve this basic American dream

A Florida middle school teacher’s blunt, viral TikTok rant just delivered a serious reality check, warning aspiring educators that they shouldn’t expect financial stability or the basic American dream of homeownership from the profession. Kristen, who teaches middle school in Florida, used her own personal financial history to demonstrate how teacher salaries simply haven’t kept pace with the insane cost of living, making it nearly impossible for new teachers to buy a home.

Kristen shared some specific numbers that really highlight the problem. She originally bought her home back in 2016 for around $160,000, and at the time, she was earning about $40,000 annually. Fast forward to 2025, and while her income has only crept up to $54,000, that same Florida house has more than doubled in value, now estimated to be worth between $350,000 and $360,000. It’s totally understandable why she asked, “How are people purchasing homes at these prices?”

She said people need to understand the true cost of taking on the privilege of raising the next generation. “Don’t do it for the money,” she warned. She insists that if you want to become a teacher, you should “do it because you want to make a difference in a child’s life. Do it because you want to enhance, quite literally, the future of the United States.” However, she followed that up with the brutal, pragmatic warning: “…don’t plan on owning a home. You won’t be able to afford it!”

It seems incredibly unfair that a job so vital to the country’s future requires such a massive financial sacrifice from those who love the work

This disparity isn’t universal, though. While education level and experience factor in, local cost of living and state budgets dramatically determine base salaries for public school educators. Kristen’s state, Florida, falls into the category of states offering lower salaries, where educators average between $53,000 and $55,000 a year. That’s tough when you consider the national average teacher salary was sitting around $72,030 for the 2023-2024 school year, according to the National Education Association.

Contrast that with states like California, New York, and Massachusetts, which are among the highest paying in the U.S. Teachers there are often earning average yearly incomes between $92,000 and $102,000.

Teachers across the country chimed in on the viral video to share their own wildly disparate experiences. Unfortunately, many echoed Kristen’s struggle. One teacher shared their exhaustion, writing, “We can’t afford the houses, so we are having to work two jobs just to pay for apartment rent. I’m tired.” Another teacher highlighted just how little long-term experience pays off in some areas. “I am in my 25th year of teaching and get paid $60k. 25 years=60k. It’s unreal,” they wrote.

Ultimately, the conversation led many to suspect the teaching profession is systemically designed for married individuals living in two-income households, even if income tax is abolished entirely. If the system assumes a teacher’s income is subsidized by a partner, it removes the pressure to pay a living wage. It’s very similar to how tips are often used as a justification for not paying living wages to various working people.

As one commenter put it bluntly, “Meh, do it because you want to be married and rely on two incomes. It isn’t sustainable otherwise. Teaching was designed to have your MRS.”