All careers › Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Elementary teacher: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $47,960lowest 10% earn less
- $57,71025th percentile
- $63,970median
- $81,45075th percentile
- $104,340top 10% earn more
Elementary school teachers had a median pay of $63,970 a year in May 2025[1]. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry education, and BLS projects a small decline in jobs from 2025 to 2035[2][3].
How much do elementary teachers make?
The median pay for an elementary school teacher was $63,970 a year in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $72,650[7]. For all occupations in the US, the median was $50,980[5].
BLS publishes only annual wages for this job and no hourly wages, because many of these teachers work less than a full 2,080-hour year yet are paid a yearly amount[8].
The percentiles show the spread of annual pay[4]:
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th[4] | $47,960 |
| 25th[4] | $57,710 |
| Median[1] | $63,970 |
| 75th[4] | $81,450 |
| 90th[4] | $104,340 |
These are boundaries, not a starting salary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,960[4][9]. BLS publishes percentile wages and no starting salary[9].
The figures cover full-time and part-time workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the employer cost of benefits, for example health insurance or retirement contributions[10].
Pay by state and city
Among the 50 states and DC with published data, Washington had the highest median at $102,350[11]. California followed at $99,650, and the District of Columbia at $96,580[11]. Oklahoma had the lowest listed median, at $48,200[11].
California also had the most jobs, with 155,160[12]. Texas had 116,260, New York 101,410, Florida 79,090 and Illinois 61,520[12].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA had the highest median at $104,650[13]. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA was next at $103,390, then Walla Walla, WA at $102,980[13].
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area had the most jobs, at 98,900, with a median of $96,900[14]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had 45,840 jobs and a median of $78,390[14].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington[11] | $102,350 | 28,980 |
| California | $99,650 | 155,160 |
| District of Columbia | $96,580 | 3,750 |
| Massachusetts | $94,000 | 29,930 |
| Rhode Island | $90,930 | 3,830 |
| New York | $85,760 | 101,410 |
| Connecticut | $80,600 | 16,330 |
| Alaska | $79,260 | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | $78,200 | 40,300 |
| Maryland | $77,680 | 29,610 |
| Ohio | $77,370 | 47,870 |
| Oregon | $77,130 | 12,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,060 | 48,370 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 | 26,640 |
| Delaware | $75,920 | 2,900 |
| Illinois | $75,320 | 61,520 |
| Utah | $74,810 | 14,820 |
| New Mexico | $74,550 | 6,210 |
| New Hampshire | $72,410 | 5,190 |
| Georgia | $72,290 | 43,820 |
| Hawaii | $71,410 | 6,040 |
| Virginia | $65,550 | 37,880 |
| Michigan | $65,110 | 40,910 |
| Nevada | $65,040 | 9,550 |
| Colorado | $63,410 | 24,860 |
| Vermont | $63,070 | 3,610 |
| Texas | $62,760 | 116,260 |
| Maine | $62,390 | 7,490 |
| Nebraska | $62,380 | 8,710 |
| Idaho | $61,600 | 6,850 |
| Alabama | $61,380 | 22,030 |
| Wisconsin | $61,210 | 24,920 |
| Wyoming | $61,150 | 2,600 |
| South Carolina | $60,820 | 25,030 |
| Kentucky | $60,610 | 19,080 |
| Iowa | $60,580 | 17,300 |
| North Dakota | $60,030 | 4,430 |
| Tennessee | $59,980 | 28,240 |
| Indiana | $59,700 | 27,720 |
| Florida | $58,930 | 79,090 |
| Louisiana | $58,770 | 22,060 |
| Montana | $57,530 | 4,960 |
| Arizona | $56,590 | 24,240 |
| Kansas | $56,450 | 14,350 |
| West Virginia | $55,630 | 5,420 |
| North Carolina | $54,930 | 42,410 |
| Arkansas | $52,700 | 12,590 |
| Missouri | $50,910 | 33,180 |
| South Dakota | $50,130 | 4,290 |
| Mississippi | $49,790 | 11,060 |
| Oklahoma | $48,200 | 18,500 |
How to become an elementary teacher
BLS Employment Projections list a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[2]. The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile covers a wider group of kindergarten and elementary teachers, so the details below describe that group[15].
- First: earn a bachelor's degree. Public and private schools typically want one in elementary education[16].
- Next: complete a teacher education program, which usually includes student teaching with a mentor teacher[17]. People with a degree in another subject can still enter, but they must finish such a program to get certified[18].
- Then: get licensed or certified. All states require it for public school teachers, while private school teachers typically do not need a license[19].
Requirements vary by state, but they generally involve a degree with a minimum grade point average, student teaching, a background check and tests of general teaching skills and subject knowledge[19][20][21][22][23].
All states offer an alternative route for people who have a bachelor's degree but lack the education courses. Some of those programs let candidates begin teaching right after graduation under an experienced teacher[24].
Teachers often must take professional development classes to keep their license. Some states also require a master's degree after certification and getting a job[25][26].
In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 78% said a bachelor's degree is required and 22% said a master's degree[27]. The sample is small, so treat it as a rough guide.
What elementary teachers do
O*NET describes the job as teaching academic and social skills to elementary students[28]. Its main tasks include[29]:
- Teaching students one on one and in groups, through lectures, discussions and demonstrations.
- Setting behavior rules and keeping order in the classroom.
- Counseling students who struggle or have special interests.
- Changing teaching methods and materials to fit different needs.
- Planning a mix of instruction, demonstration and work time.
- Getting materials and classrooms ready.
- Reading aloud to whole classes or small groups.
- Watching how students do, behave and develop.
- Meeting with parents, guardians and school staff about student progress and problems.
O*NET sample job titles include classroom teacher, primary teacher, art teacher and music teacher[30].
Where elementary teachers work
The handbook text below covers the wider group of kindergarten and elementary teachers[15]. Local elementary and secondary schools were the largest employer, at 84%[31].
Teachers generally work during school hours. They may meet with parents, students and other teachers before and after school, and often grade papers and plan lessons in the evenings and on weekends[32]. Many follow the traditional 10-month school year with a 2-month summer break and a short midwinter break[33]. Some work in the summer[33]. In year-round districts, teachers typically work 9 weeks in a row and then have a 3-week break[34].
Most states have tenure laws that give job security after a number of years of satisfactory teaching[35]. The handbook says watching students learn can be rewarding, but it adds that the work may be stressful. At some schools, classes are large and teaching tools such as computers and current textbooks are missing[36].
OEWS counted about 1,388,390 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[37]. In Employment Projections data, 0.3% were self-employed in 2025[38].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to fall 0.4% between 2025 and 2035, going from roughly 1,419,300 jobs to 1,413,400, a change of 5,800 fewer jobs[3]. Across all occupations, BLS projects 3.5% growth over the same period[39]. These counts include self-employed workers[3].
Still, about 87,500 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings include more than new jobs. They also come from workers who retire or switch to other fields[6].
Every year, 3% of workers leave the labor force and 3.2% move to a different occupation[40].
Is it a good fit?
The facts point to a job with pay above the all-occupations median, at $63,970 against $50,980[1][5]. It takes a bachelor's degree, and public schools require a license or certification[2][19]. Total employment is projected to dip slightly, but yearly openings are large compared with the change in jobs[3][6]. The handbook also says teaching may be stressful and often means evening and weekend work[36][32]. Licensing requirements vary by state[19], and so do median wages[11], so check your own state's figures.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an elementary teacher make a year?
- The median was $63,970 a year in May 2025 and the average was $72,650[1][7]. BLS publishes no hourly wage for this job[8].
- What degree do you need to be an elementary teacher?
- A bachelor's degree is the typical entry education[2]. Public school teachers also need a state license or certification[19].
- Can you become an elementary teacher with a degree in another subject?
- Yes. All states offer an alternative route for people with a bachelor's degree who lack the education courses[24].
- Is elementary teaching in demand?
- BLS projects a 0.4% decline from 2025 to 2035, but about 87,500 openings a year because of retirements and job changes[3][6].
- What is the highest paying state for elementary teachers?
- Washington had the highest median at $102,350, followed by California at $99,650[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the US was $63,970 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education is projected to decline 0.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,419,300 to 1,413,400 jobs (a change of -5,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: 10th percentile $47,960, 25th percentile $57,710, 75th percentile $81,450, 90th percentile $104,340. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 87,500 openings for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education was $72,650 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education jobs: California 155,160; Texas 116,260; New York 101,410; Florida 79,090; Illinois 61,520. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (areas with at least 100 jobs): Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $104,650; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $103,390; Walla Walla, WA $102,980; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $102,920; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $102,860; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $102,650; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $101,860; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $101,860. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 98,900 (median $96,900); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 45,840 (median $78,390); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 44,790 (median $101,860); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 30,980 (median $64,500); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 30,940 (median $79,470); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 27,350 (median $65,070). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers" covers Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 25-2021.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 78%, Master's Degree 22% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 25-2021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Art Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Elementary Classroom Teacher, Elementary School Teacher, Elementary Teacher, Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher), Music Teacher, Primary Teacher. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of kindergarten and elementary school teachers in 2025: Elementary and secondary schools; local 84%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,388,390 people were employed as Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: 0.3% of Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: 3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.