I know a lot of teachers leaving the field.
A few have left over $. Some would stay for more money--another $3-6k per year, perhaps more.
They were okay with their pay 2, 3, 4 years ago. What's changed are the working conditions.
Rural schools have always had problems with teacher retention. Living in the boonies can be inconvenient. You don't fit in, you can't keep your lifestyle. Things can just be different.
But urban/suburban is an easy enough commute. Live where you want.
Yet urban and suburban schools have different retention rates.
All three categories of schools have the same rating system. Same standardized tests. Same standards to teach to. So that's not it, at least not in Texas.
What's left are the conditions in the schools. The working conditions in my school changed in the last 18 months. Our pay increase was above average. We lost 20% of our teachers at the end of last year. I personally know another 2-3%, just in my little bit of the school, who are looking elsewhere. And another 5% or so who would have left but wanted to wait another year before retirement or to serve out some multiyear commitment.
We have classrooms going into week 2 on Monday that have no teachers. They have substitutes.
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