So what should a teacher make and how much are they worth?

Teachers and their unions are demanding more money for the work they do, but they won’t say how much that work is worth.

How much more money do teachers need? KIRO Radio’s John Curley wants to know.

“Would you like $150,000 to teach? How much do you want?” Curley said.

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Recent walkouts and strikes, including a massive walkout on Tuesday by Seattle educators, is in protest of the Legislature not doing enough for education. Teachers and voters want lower class sizes and increased funding for basic education. There is also a demand for increase cost-of-living adjustments, which has been on a freeze for years, KIRO Radio’s Tom Tangney pointed out.

But educators are not saying exactly how much more they want to make. Issaquah Education Association President Doug Jones told KIRO Radio’s Jason Rantz that it’s been six years since teachers received a cost-of-living adjustment, which is much different than a pay raise.

Then how much more would be fair? How do you determine funding?

“That’s a good point,” Jones responded.

Teachers are choosing to leave the profession at a younger age, Jones said. People are also choosing to retire earlier. At the same time, the amount of teaching “candidates” is down 40 percent, he said.

“People want to get paid what they believe they are worth,” Jones added.

The average salary for teachers in Washington state is $62,377, according the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Of course, salaries vary wildly within the state. According to data collected by The Seattle Times two weeks ago, a first-year teacher in the Seattle School District made $44,372, with a veteran teacher at $79,788. A first-year teacher in Puyallup made $40,042, with veterans at $69,052. Everett teachers seem to do the best at $45,152 in their first year and $90,757 in their veteran years.

Other arguments for more education funding aren’t entirely clear. The class size argument is ridiculous, Curley said. That’s like asking someone if they want ice cream – of course – but do they want to pay for it? No.

“Do you want smaller class sizes? Yes. OK, now we need to come up with the money to fund it,” Curley said.

There is one thing Curley suggests not only the state, but country could do to help further fund education: shut down the U.S. Department of Education.

“They’ve got 5,000 employees and haven’t done anything,” Curley said.