Affordability Crisis Pushes US Teachers Into Side Hustles

Spread love

By S. JHA

With inflation, housing, fuel and grocery costs squeezing household budgets, a majority of American public school teachers now work extra jobs to supplement their income.

Mumbai, June 11, 2026 — A growing affordability crisis in the United States is forcing many educators to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet, highlighting the financial pressures facing even experienced professionals in one of the country’s most important sectors.

According to a recent survey cited by CBS News, more than one-third of American workers now hold multiple jobs as they grapple with rising living expenses. Among teachers, the situation appears particularly acute. The survey found that 71 percent of US public school teachers work at least one additional job, while one in five K-12 educators reports struggling financially.

For 54-year-old teacher Christine Regal, teaching remains a calling rather than simply a profession. Having spent 26 years in the classroom in Plainfield, New Jersey, she says her passion for working with children has never diminished.

“I just love working with kids,” Regal told CBS News, adding: “I’ve been teaching for 26 years and I still remain in contact with a lot of them.”

Yet devotion alone is not enough to cover rising expenses. To supplement her income, Regal performs breakfast and lunch duty at school, tutors students after classes and works additional shifts at a restaurant.

The financial squeeze is being felt across essential household expenses. Regal pointed to rising fuel and grocery bills as major burdens on her budget. A recent fuel fill-up cost her around $70, while a routine grocery trip for just two bags of items came to approximately $160.

Teachers are also facing classroom-related expenses. Regal estimates that she spends up to $1,500 of her own money each year on supplies for students, a common practice among educators across the country. While she shares some of those costs with a co-teacher, both are increasingly concerned about how they will manage future expenses.

The pressures extend beyond day-to-day finances and into long-term planning. Asked about retirement, Regal acknowledged that continuing to work extra jobs may remain necessary for years to come.

“I’m going to just keep hustling and keep putting money away,” she said, expressing hope that her financial outlook will improve by the time she reaches retirement age.

As schools break for summer, Regal will continue waitressing to earn additional income. Her story reflects a broader challenge confronting educators nationwide, where rising living costs are increasingly outpacing salary growth and forcing many teachers to seek second and even third jobs to maintain financial stability.