1. APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECT Job: Teacher Locations: Baltimore MD, Tampa FL

2. Occupation’s Average Income OccupationMedian Salary University Faculty$62,050 Special Ed. Teacher$53,220 Librarian$54,500 Teachers$51,380 School Counselor$53,380 Teacher’s Salary Statistics National AverageBaltimoreTampa Median Wages$56,310$60,800$46,200

3. City Comparison Baltimore, MDTampa, FL Public transportationPoor School SystemsElementary Schools: 205 Middle Schools: 41 High Schools: 52 Private: 113 Elementary Schools: 96 Middle Schools: 33 High Schools: 27 Private: 64 Interesting FactHome to Michael PhelpsThe temperature in Tampa has never hit 100 degrees

4. Average Living Expenses ExpensesBaltimore, MDTampa, FL State Income Tax2-5.75% + Baltimore City income tax.0320% None Rent for Apartment$1,300-6,000 per month$800-2,000 per month Average Car Insurance$1,590$1,742 Utilities$141.86$147.05 Health Insurance$475 per month$257-328 Groceries$77.07$74.27 Average Restaurant Index: $83.04$64.95

5. Cost of Living Comparison You would need about $3,613.77 in Tampa, FL to maintain the same standard of life that you can have for about $4,300.00 in Baltimore, MD

6. Graduate Degree Evaluation for Teaching Part I Case Study: Degree type: Elementary Teacher Education Bachelor’s degree: $33,242 Master's degree: $43,997 Related careers: Any position within an elementary school What Does This Mean? Graduate degrees can help boost salaries A Graduate degree is not necessary in every teaching position and may not effect salary if working in a public school

7. Graduate Degree Evaluation for Teaching Part II Considerations The value of a Teaching Certification vs. Graduate School Average cost of graduate school: $30,000-$40,000 Teaching Private Schools vs. Teaching in Public Schools The more advanced teaching level, the more it is recommended to have advanced degrees

8. Job Titles and Earnings Options with Graduate Degree Job TitleEarnings Special Education Teacher$57,810 Vocational Education Teacher$48,360 Teaching Assistant$24,430 School Psychologist$68,900 University Professor$62,050

9. My Summary By looking at my comparison between Tampa and Baltimore and living on a teacher’s average salary of $51,380, I think I would prefer to live in Baltimore. I think my answer is a bit biased because that is where I am from, however, I am basing this decision mainly on my research about Graduate School. If I was a teacher, I would prefer to work in a private school. My research indicates that this will allow me to have more career upwards mobility and a higher salary. Although Baltimore is more expensive to live as a whole, it also has a lot of educational options with a wider variety of school types.