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Elementary teacher salary in Ohio

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$77,370median pay per year in Ohio, May 2025[1]
  1. $47,680lowest 10% earn less
  2. $59,96025th percentile
  3. $77,370median
  4. $82,72075th percentile
  5. $99,210top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $63,970[3]

Elementary teachers in Ohio earned a median of $77,370 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $13,400 more than the US median for the job[6].

Jobs in OH
47,870[4]
Rank by median pay
11 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+20.9%[6]

How much do elementary teachers make in Ohio?

The median pay for an elementary teacher in Ohio was $77,370 a year[1]. Half of these teachers earned more than that and half earned less. The average was a bit lower, at $72,740[7]. Ohio had the 11th highest median for this job among the 50 states and DC[5], and its median was 20.9% above the national one[6]. Compared with all jobs in the state, elementary teachers earned $27,990 more at the median[8].

Pay still spreads out. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,680, while the top 10% earned more than $99,210[2]. BLS reports only yearly pay for this job, since teachers are paid by the year and often work fewer hours than a full-time year[9].

Location matters too. Among Ohio metro areas, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek had the highest median at $80,360[10]. Columbus came in at $78,150, and Toledo at $63,250[11]. Keep in mind that these OEWS figures leave out bonuses that are not tied to output and the value of benefits like health plans or retirement funds[12].

Ohio vs US pay

Pay for elementary teachers in Ohio next to the national figures[1][3].

OHUS
Median per year$77,370[1]$63,970[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$47,680[2]$47,960[13]
Top 10% earn more than$99,210[2]$104,340[13]
Jobs47,870[4]1,388,390[3]

Pay by metro area in Ohio

Metro areas in Ohio with the most jobs for elementary teachers, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Columbus, OH[11]$78,1509,950
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$64,7409,150
Cleveland, OH$76,4705,460
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$80,3603,430
Toledo, OH$63,2503,350
Akron, OH$78,5602,010
Youngstown-Warren, OH$72,5601,780
Canton-Massillon, OH$77,9401,540

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for elementary teachers in the states that border Ohio, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Pennsylvania[14]$77,06048,370
Michigan$65,11040,910
Kentucky$60,61019,080
Indiana$59,70027,720
West Virginia$55,6305,420

Median pay for elementary teachers in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for elementary teachers are projected to decline 0.4% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an elementary teacher make in Ohio?
The median wage for elementary teachers in Ohio was $77,370 a year in May 2025[1]. The middle half earned between $59,960 and $82,720[2].
How much does an elementary teacher make an hour in Ohio?
BLS does not publish an hourly wage for this job, only yearly pay, because teachers are paid by the year[9]. The yearly median in Ohio was $77,370[1].
Which city in Ohio pays elementary teachers the most?
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek had the highest median of the Ohio metro areas, at $80,360 a year[10]. In Akron the median was $78,560, and in Columbus it was $78,150[11].
Is Ohio a good state for elementary teachers?
Ohio ranked 11th among the 50 states and DC for median pay in this job[5]. Its median was $13,400 above the US figure[6]. Pennsylvania had the highest median of the bordering states, at $77,060[14].
What do you need to become an elementary teacher in Ohio?
Across the US, the typical education needed to start is a bachelor's degree, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[16]. BLS gives this as a national figure, not one for Ohio.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Ohio was $77,370 per year. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Ohio: 10th percentile $47,680, 25th percentile $59,960, 75th percentile $82,720, 90th percentile $99,210. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the US as a whole was $63,970 per year, with about 1,388,390 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 47,870 people worked as Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Ohio (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Ohio had the 11th highest median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Ohio ($77,370) was $13,400 (20.9%) higher than the US median ($63,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Ohio was $72,740 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Ohio was $27,990 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($49,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. 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
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 14 metro areas in or partly in Ohio with a published median for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH had the highest median annual wage, $80,360. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the US: 10th percentile $47,960, 25th percentile $57,710, 75th percentile $81,450, 90th percentile $104,340. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in states that border Ohio (highest first): Pennsylvania $77,060; Michigan $65,110; Kentucky $60,610; Indiana $59,700; West Virginia $55,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education is projected to decline 0.4% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 87,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), 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

State figures cover only Ohio. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.