Gallup poll: Money not a primary motivator for teachers

Only a small percentage of teachers say they are motivated to do their best work because of money, according to a new poll from Gallup published Monday.

Six percent of teachers surveyed said that pay is the primary factor for them when doing “what is best for their overall organization.”

Despite wages not being a primary motivator, only 14 percent of teachers surveyed said they believe they are paid fairly in comparison to people doing similar work.

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The polling comes as teachers in a number of states have gone on strike to demand better pay and benefits. Gallup’s survey shows that increased wages might take teachers back to the classroom, but it might not be enough to motivate them to perform at their highest level.

Instead, the survey shows that intrinsic motivators, such as “mission-filled work and having job autonomy and opportunities to be creative in the classroom,” can be better motivators for teachers.

The respondents also seemed to shy away from salary hikes based on performance. 

According to the survey, 68 percent of teachers would prefer a steadily increasing salary without additional pay based on performance. Measuring the performance of teachers can be difficult, and pay increases based on performance are only effective if performance can be measured accurately, Gallup argues.

Sixty-two percent of those polled who considered themselves “engaged” said that they are less likely to leave their district compared with teachers who are not engaged or actively disengaged.

Recent weeks have seen teacher strikes nationwide, including in Arizona, Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia and Colorado.