Here is some math on teachers salaries. Teachers are valuable government employees. We entrust them to build the human capital of the nation. Looking at their salaries should make you think about ALL government employee salaries and pensions. It is very difficult to compare a teaching salary to a private sector employee for a number of reasons. Teachers have virtually no risk of getting laid off. Mucg they perform poorly or spectacularly, they receive the same pay. They are guaranteed a defined benefit pension when they retire. Illinois trachers work around days, minutes, or 5 hours, per day.