But her $1 million is not just $1 million either. That is what she has earned so far. She could make many more millions in the years to come, not to mention the interest or dividends from investing it. You must have taught in a wealthier district. The top end of the district I retired from was roughly $90,000. Oh, and subtract from her salary the cost of getting the PhD you reference and the time she would have spent getting it. And then there is always the possibility of layoffs.