Get the Facts Out is an NSF funded project that helps dispel myths that may discourage students from pursuing STEM teaching careers. They found 3 prevalent myths about teaching:
Myth #1: Teaching pays less: Most people underestimate teaching salaries by $10-30K.
Myth #2: Teachers can never retire: Most teaching jobs have better retirement benefits that private industry.
Myth #3: Teachers are unhappy: Teachers report having higher job satisfaction than other STEM professionals.
In fact, out of 14 occupations surveyed, teachers score 2nd highest on the Well-Being Index, beat out only by Physicians. (They scored low on workplace environment satisfaction, though.) Check out the Gallup Poll Report: Teachers Love Their Lives, But Struggle in the Workplace.