As a corps member, you’ll receive the same salary and benefits as other first-year teachers in your school or district, plus additional financial incentives from Teach For America and AmeriCorps.
What Salary Do TFA Corps Members Receive?
Corps members are full-time employees of, and paid by, our partner school districts and charter networks. First-year TFA teachers make between $33,000 and $68,000 per school year from their paycheck. TFA offers additional financial support on top of that paycheck with a value of approximately $14,000 - $30,000 over two years, depending on eligibility.
Financial Support From TFA
In addition to the salary earned from your placement school, TFA offers additional financial support for corps members with a value of $14,000 - $30,000 over two years, based on region and eligibility. The financial supports offered by TFA include:
Teach For America offers Transitional Support Stipends for all incoming corps members. They help corps members bridge the gap in their transition to the classroom before they receive their first paycheck.
- Baseline Regional Stipends are designed to help corps members cover two months of housing along with initial test registration costs. The Baseline Regional Stipend ranges in amount depending on region.
- All Pell Grant recipients and EAD holders also qualify for an additional Pell/EAD Stipend of $3,000 on top of their Baseline Regional Stipend, regardless of placement region.
Incoming corps members with additional financial need may apply for Need-Based Transitional Support to supplement their Transitional Support Stipends. These packages of grants and no-interest loans are based on demonstrated need, regional cost of living, and Transitional Support Stipend amount. All need-based applicants will be offered an interest-free loan; applicants with the highest need may also be offered a grant. Incoming corps members can apply through the applicant center. Get an overview of need-based support.
All Pell Grant recipients and EAD holders also qualify for an additional Pell/EAD Stipend of $3,000 on top of their Baseline Regional Stipend, regardless of placement region.
Corps members who join AmeriCorps may be eligible for additional funding to help pay off student loans or put toward certification costs. The AmeriCorps award is distributed after each year of membership. The current AmeriCorps award is $7,395. Read more about our partnership with AmeriCorps.
A Look at TFA Salaries by Region
A Look at TFA Salaries by Region
Corps members' salaries are determined by the school district or charter network they teach in.
You can find information on specific regions' salaries and compare details such as first and second-year salary ranges for TFA teachers, average rent, and any available signing bonus and stipends using this tool.
What Benefits Do TFA Corps Members Receive?
There are plenty of benefits of being a Teach For America corps member. As you launch a purpose-driven career that weaves together your passion, purpose, and professional pursuits as a teacher, you’ll earn a sustainable living while living your values, every day at work.
What’s more, TFA teacher corps members receive financial benefits such as:
As a corps member, you’re eligible for full health benefits offered by your school district or public charter network.
TFA corps members receive the same vacation and paid holidays as other beginning teachers working for the same employer.
Retirement benefits for corps members are offered by the school district or public charter network for which you work.
Corps members may be eligible for help managing student loan debt with a variety of loan forgiveness programs specifically designed for teachers. While joining Teach For America does not mean your student loans are automatically forgiven, help may be available through a variety of federal loan forgiveness programs. Read more about some of these loan forgiveness programs.
Individual regional placement communities and employers may also have additional financial benefits and support such as affordable housing partnerships, or per-district signing bonuses.
More Resources, More Support, More Opportunities
Check out these financial and benefit-related resources to help ground you in how teaching can launch a viable, rewarding, and sustainable career path with Teach For America.
Make it Make Cents is a financial literary zine for teachers, whether they are corps members or not. It contains helpful tips, articles, and features about making your money work as an educator.
Get Insider Tips on Financial Benefits for New Corps Members including placement community-specific signing bonuses, insights into states where we work with low- or no-income taxes—and more!
5 Things to Know About TFA Transitional Grants is a helpful read to gain deeper insight into grants and interest-free loans that can help corps members make the transition into the classroom.
Read What Teachers Use to Make Smart Money Moves for how Teach For America partners help corps members save, spend, and make sense of finances.
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3 Reasons to Teach in Alabama
1. Rich in history
The story of Alabama is one of triumph and beauty. Living in Alabama affords the opportunity to explore the state’s hiking trails, rivers, beaches, and campsites when you have free time. This vibrant state is rich in culture and community and it’s affordable.
It boasts one of the lowest average monthly rents of all our regions, with corps members paying about $400-$800 per month. Experience more financial freedom with a salary range comparable to some of our larger urban locations. First year teacher salaries range from $43,358 - $57,664 per year.
2. Advanced education
There are many options for you to grow professionally in the education field. Depending on the grade level you teach you may need or want to get a Master’s degree. Additionally, Alabama makes certification a little easier by making it available to you both in-person and online. Which ever path you choose, you can use your AmeriCorps award to help cover the costs.
3. Extra help
To incentivize more teachers to come to Alabama, corps members will receive an Alabama background check, up to 2 Praxis test attempts, and 1 study book—all free of charge.
Once you’ve received your offer, take pride in being one step closer to joining a cohort of changemakers. Together, you’ll help reshape education, partner with communities to tackle systemic injustices, and elevate student potential.
As you prepare for this exciting journey, we understand the process can feel overwhelming. We’re here to guide you every step of the way. Here’s a breakdown of the key information and actions you'll need to confidently accept your offer and get ready for your first day as a teacher.
Your Offer Details: Two Key Emails
First Email
You'll receive confirmation of your acceptance from the admissions team. You will be prompted to log into the Applicant Center to review the details of your offer.
Second Email
You’ll be welcomed to your assigned region. This email will include:
- A link to the portal to review your offer details
- A link to your Regional Offer Guide, which covers:
- Corps member experience
- Onboarding steps & timeline
- Certification process
- Hiring details
- Pre-Service training overview
- Associated costs
- A link to schedule a 1:1 meeting with a staff member
- Information about a Virtual Call for your region.
Logging Into the Applicant Center
Once you log in, you’ll complete a brief survey to help us better support you. After that, you’ll have access to all your offer details, including:
Regional Placement
The community where you'll serve.
Subject Assignment
What you'll be teaching.
School Placement Process
How we help with finding a school.
Compensation Range
Salary expectations based on your region.
Transitional Support Stipend
What financial help is available.
AmeriCorps Award
Amount and how to apply (if eligible).
Training Overview
What to expect during pre-service training.
Offer Deadline
When you need to accept or decline your offer.
Accepting Your Offer
The process to accept your offer will take about 10-15 minutes. You’ll need to provide:
Personal Information
Social Security number, emergency contacts, etc.
Decision Insights
Key factors in your decision, identity details.
Policy Acknowledgement
Review and acceptance of TFA policies.
Commitment to the Corps
Your pledge to join the TFA mission.
Optional Support
Need-based financial support (if applicable).
After accepting, you’ll receive further instructions on next steps. You'll have 10 days from the date of your offer to make your decision.
Need Help Making Your Decision?
Need Help Making Your Decision?
We understand that this is a big decision, and we’re committed to supporting you. We encourage you to take full advantage of the resources available during your decision window:
- Talk to a staff member for personalized guidance.
- Attend the virtual Exploring Your Offer Call for deeper insights.
- Connect with a current corps member or alumni to hear their experiences.
Important Next Steps After Accepting
Once you accept your offer, you'll need to take additional steps to be hired by one of our partner schools, including participating in interviews and completing state certification requirements.
Your school will be your official employer, and they will provide your salary and benefits package. But don't worry—TFA will be there to help throughout the entire process.
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Tell us where you are in your job journey, and we'll find the right TFA program for you.
Graduated or graduating soon?
Join the Teacher Corps
Teach as a corps member if you...
- Prefer a full-time, paid role with diverse location options
- Are passionate about working with and advocating for communities impacted by systemic racism
- Believe education unlocks opportunity and want to teach to make a difference
- Seek mentorship and training to launch a meaningful career
- Value collaborating with like-minded leaders to drive lasting change
Still in undergrad?
Join the Ignite Fellowship
Tutor as an Ignite fellow if you...
- Want a flexible, virtual, part-time role supporting student success
- Are passionate about helping others reach their full potential
- Enjoy making complex concepts easier to understand
- Are looking to build leadership skills during the Fall and Spring academic terms
- Are inspired to make a difference in communities disproportionately impacted by historical and systemic inequity