25 Series · SOC 25-2021

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$63,970
Median / year
$104,340
Top 10% earn
-2%
Growth '23–'33
1,388,390
US workers

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn a median of $63,970 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $63,970, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $47,960 (10th percentile) to $104,340 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,388,390 US workers. Washington pays the most ($102,350), since pay varies by state and metro area.

25 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn a median of $63,970, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 55% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Educational Instruction and Library, it ranks #50 of 64 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 2% by 2033.

$63,970
Median annual wage
Top 45%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#50 of 64
in Educational Instruction and Library
2.2×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Washington at $102,350. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021) pays a national median of $63,970 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $47,960 at the 10th percentile to $104,340 at the 90th, with a mean of $72,650 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 1,388,390 Americans work in this occupation across 54 reporting states and 518 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 91,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.8 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $102,350, which is +60% above the national figure. The top metro is Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA at $104,650 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 1,388,390 jobs Median $63,970/yr

Median Salary

$63,970

per year

Median Hourly

N/A

per hour

Mean Salary

$72,650

average

Employment

1,388,390

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$63,970 Top 45% higher than 55% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 25-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 25-series occupations with growth data, Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education sits on the slower-growing side at -2% growth and $63,970 median pay.

Among 24 25-series occupations with growth data, Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education sits on the slower-growing side at -2% growth and $63,970 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $20000$40000$60000$80000$100000$120000 -5%0%5%10%15%20% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 24 25-series occupations with growth data, Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education sits on the slower-growing side at -2% growth and $63,970 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-2%

Declining

Annual Openings

91,000

per year (projected)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

0.3/100K

Injury Rate

0.8/100

Danger Index

3.4/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Learning Strategies 4.3
Instructing 4.3
Speaking 4.1
Active Listening 4.0
Critical Thinking 4.0
Monitoring 4.0
Social Perceptiveness 4.0
Reading Comprehension 3.9
Writing 3.9
Coordination 3.9

Knowledge Areas

English Language 4.9
Education and Training 4.8
Mathematics 3.9
Customer and Personal Service 3.9
Psychology 3.7
Therapy and Counseling 3.3
Computers and Electronics 3.2
Public Safety and Security 3.2
Administrative 3.2
Administration and Management 3.1

Key Tasks

  • Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
  • Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
  • Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.
  • Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
  • Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
  • Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
  • Read books to entire classes or small groups.
  • Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
  • Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
  • Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$47,960$57,710$63,970$81,450$104,340
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th Percentile

$47,960

25th Percentile

$57,710

Median

$63,970

75th Percentile

$81,450

90th Percentile

$104,340

Salary by State

View all 54 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Washington $102,350 +60% above national
2 California $99,650 +56% above national
3 District of Columbia $96,580 +51% above national
4 Massachusetts $94,000 +47% above national
5 Rhode Island $90,930 +42% above national
6 New York $85,760 +34% above national
7 Connecticut $80,600 +26% above national
8 Alaska $79,260 +24% above national
9 New Jersey $78,200 +22% above national
10 Maryland $77,680 +21% above national
11 Ohio $77,370 +21% above national
12 Oregon $77,130 +21% above national
13 Pennsylvania $77,060 +20% above national
14 Minnesota $76,350 +19% above national
15 Delaware $75,920 +19% above national
16 Illinois $75,320 +18% above national
17 Utah $74,810 +17% above national
18 New Mexico $74,550 +17% above national
19 New Hampshire $72,410 +13% above national
20 Georgia $72,290 +13% above national
21 Hawaii $71,410 +12% above national
22 Virginia $65,550 +2% above national
23 Michigan $65,110 +2% above national
24 Nevada $65,040 +2% above national
25 Colorado $63,410 1% below national
26 Vermont $63,070 1% below national
27 Texas $62,760 2% below national
28 Maine $62,390 2% below national
29 Nebraska $62,380 2% below national
30 Guam $62,240 3% below national
31 Idaho $61,600 4% below national
32 Alabama $61,380 4% below national
33 Wisconsin $61,210 4% below national
34 Wyoming $61,150 4% below national
35 South Carolina $60,820 5% below national
36 Kentucky $60,610 5% below national
37 Iowa $60,580 5% below national
38 Virgin Islands $60,560 5% below national
39 North Dakota $60,030 6% below national
40 Tennessee $59,980 6% below national
41 Indiana $59,700 7% below national
42 Florida $58,930 8% below national
43 Louisiana $58,770 8% below national
44 Montana $57,530 10% below national
45 Arizona $56,590 12% below national
46 Kansas $56,450 12% below national
47 West Virginia $55,630 13% below national
48 North Carolina $54,930 14% below national
49 Arkansas $52,700 18% below national
50 Puerto Rico $51,540 19% below national
51 Missouri $50,910 20% below national
52 South Dakota $50,130 22% below national
53 Mississippi $49,790 22% below national
54 Oklahoma $48,200 25% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 518 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $104,650 +64% above national
2 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $103,390 +62% above national
3 Walla Walla, WA $102,980 +61% above national
4 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $102,920 +61% above national
5 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $102,860 +61% above national
6 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $102,650 +60% above national
7 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $101,860 +59% above national
8 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $101,860 +59% above national
9 Modesto, CA $101,640 +59% above national
10 Bellingham, WA $101,230 +58% above national
11 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $101,030 +58% above national
12 Western Washington nonmetropolitan area $100,920 +58% above national
13 Vallejo, CA $100,790 +58% above national
14 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $100,730 +57% above national
15 Napa, CA $100,410 +57% above national
16 El Centro, CA $100,390 +57% above national
17 Kennewick-Richland, WA $100,380 +57% above national
18 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $100,340 +57% above national
19 Barnstable Town, MA $100,320 +57% above national
20 Salinas, CA $100,220 +57% above national
21 Merced, CA $100,120 +57% above national
22 Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $99,490 +56% above national
23 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $99,420 +55% above national
24 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $99,260 +55% above national
25 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $99,060 +55% above national
26 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $98,800 +54% above national
27 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $98,600 +54% above national
28 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $98,520 +54% above national
29 Hanford-Corcoran, CA $98,470 +54% above national
30 Visalia, CA $98,430 +54% above national
31 Yakima, WA $98,330 +54% above national
32 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $98,060 +53% above national
33 Kingston, NY $97,920 +53% above national
34 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $97,620 +53% above national
35 Stockton-Lodi, CA $97,400 +52% above national
36 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $97,000 +52% above national
37 Yuba City, CA $97,000 +52% above national
38 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $96,900 +51% above national
39 Chico, CA $95,000 +49% above national
40 North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $91,200 +43% above national
41 Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area $88,870 +39% above national
42 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $86,720 +36% above national
43 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $83,840 +31% above national
44 Redding, CA $83,780 +31% above national
45 Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $83,300 +30% above national
46 Worcester, MA $82,810 +29% above national
47 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $82,330 +29% above national
48 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $81,770 +28% above national
49 Boulder, CO $80,640 +26% above national
50 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $80,480 +26% above national
51 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $80,360 +26% above national
52 Longview-Kelso, WA $79,910 +25% above national
53 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA $79,900 +25% above national
54 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $79,900 +25% above national
55 Reading, PA $79,860 +25% above national
56 New Haven, CT $79,820 +25% above national
57 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $79,800 +25% above national
58 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $79,730 +25% above national
59 York-Hanover, PA $79,730 +25% above national
60 Springfield, MA $79,640 +24% above national
61 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $79,640 +24% above national
62 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $79,470 +24% above national
63 North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $79,380 +24% above national
64 Anchorage, AK $79,270 +24% above national
65 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $79,240 +24% above national
66 Fairbanks-College, AK $79,160 +24% above national
67 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $79,040 +24% above national
68 Alaska nonmetropolitan area $78,990 +23% above national
69 Pittsfield, MA $78,910 +23% above national
70 Fresno, CA $78,800 +23% above national
71 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $78,570 +23% above national
72 Akron, OH $78,560 +23% above national
73 Syracuse, NY $78,560 +23% above national
74 Glens Falls, NY $78,470 +23% above national
75 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $78,390 +23% above national
76 Lancaster, PA $78,360 +22% above national
77 Vineland, NJ $78,260 +22% above national
78 Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area $78,260 +22% above national
79 Columbus, OH $78,150 +22% above national
80 Canton-Massillon, OH $77,940 +22% above national
81 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $77,920 +22% above national
82 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $77,850 +22% above national
83 Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $77,820 +22% above national
84 Bend, OR $77,810 +22% above national
85 Central East New York nonmetropolitan area $77,580 +21% above national
86 West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $77,380 +21% above national
87 Harrisonburg, VA $77,340 +21% above national
88 Springfield, OH $77,320 +21% above national
89 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $77,160 +21% above national
90 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $77,030 +20% above national
91 Utica-Rome, NY $77,010 +20% above national
92 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $76,910 +20% above national
93 Farmington, NM $76,840 +20% above national
94 Portland-South Portland, ME $76,770 +20% above national
95 State College, PA $76,760 +20% above national
96 Chambersburg, PA $76,750 +20% above national
97 Corvallis, OR $76,710 +20% above national
98 Athens-Clarke County, GA $76,600 +20% above national
99 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $76,590 +20% above national
100 Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area $76,590 +20% above national
101 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $76,570 +20% above national
102 Pittsburgh, PA $76,550 +20% above national
103 Binghamton, NY $76,540 +20% above national
104 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $76,490 +20% above national
105 Lebanon, PA $76,490 +20% above national
106 Cleveland, OH $76,470 +20% above national
107 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $76,400 +19% above national
108 Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $76,340 +19% above national
109 Lexington Park, MD $76,170 +19% above national
110 Connecticut nonmetropolitan area $76,080 +19% above national
111 Lima, OH $75,830 +19% above national
112 Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $75,820 +19% above national
113 Rochester, MN $75,770 +18% above national
114 Brunswick-St. Simons, GA $75,530 +18% above national
115 Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $75,530 +18% above national
116 Albuquerque, NM $75,520 +18% above national
117 Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $75,460 +18% above national
118 Gettysburg, PA $75,450 +18% above national
119 High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area $75,170 +18% above national
120 Dover, DE $75,080 +17% above national
121 North Georgia nonmetropolitan area $74,880 +17% above national
122 Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $74,880 +17% above national
123 Salem, OR $74,810 +17% above national
124 Logan, UT-ID $74,790 +17% above national
125 Williamsport, PA $74,610 +17% above national
126 Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $74,510 +16% above national
127 Grants Pass, OR $74,260 +16% above national
128 Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area $74,170 +16% above national
129 Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area $74,110 +16% above national
130 Las Cruces, NM $74,100 +16% above national
131 Bay City, MI $74,010 +16% above national
132 Warner Robins, GA $74,000 +16% above national
133 Saginaw, MI $73,810 +15% above national
134 Santa Fe, NM $73,750 +15% above national
135 Manchester-Nashua, NH $73,380 +15% above national
136 St. Cloud, MN $73,160 +14% above national
137 Urban Honolulu, HI $73,080 +14% above national
138 Albany, OR $72,960 +14% above national
139 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $72,930 +14% above national
140 Youngstown-Warren, OH $72,560 +13% above national
141 Maryland nonmetropolitan area $72,390 +13% above national
142 Salisbury, MD $72,250 +13% above national
143 St. George, UT $72,100 +13% above national
144 Kahului-Wailuku, HI $71,830 +12% above national
145 Johnstown, PA $71,300 +11% above national
146 Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $70,440 +10% above national
147 Erie, PA $69,920 +9% above national
148 Hinesville, GA $67,090 +5% above national
149 Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area $66,470 +4% above national
150 Traverse City, MI $66,020 +3% above national
151 Duluth, MN-WI $65,840 +3% above national
152 Medford, OR $65,830 +3% above national
153 Flint, MI $65,620 +3% above national
154 Bloomington, IL $65,590 +3% above national
155 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $65,210 +2% above national
156 Battle Creek, MI $65,090 +2% above national
157 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $65,070 +2% above national
158 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $65,040 +2% above national
159 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $64,990 +2% above national
160 Gainesville, GA $64,780 +1% above national
161 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $64,740 +1% above national
162 Lewiston, ID-WA $64,600 +1% above national
163 Grand Island, NE $64,530 +1% above national
164 Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area $64,530 +1% above national
165 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $64,500 +1% above national
166 Rome, GA $64,360 +1% above national
167 Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area $64,320 +1% above national
168 Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $64,310 +1% above national
169 Eugene-Springfield, OR $64,260 same as national
170 Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $64,240 same as national
171 Rockford, IL $64,200 same as national
172 Ann Arbor, MI $64,060 same as national
173 Mansfield, OH $63,980 same as national
174 Ogden, UT $63,910 same as national
175 El Paso, TX $63,800 same as national
176 Jackson, MI $63,770 same as national
177 Savannah, GA $63,710 same as national
178 Madison, WI $63,690 same as national
179 Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $63,660 same as national
180 Ithaca, NY $63,610 1% below national
181 Coeur d'Alene, ID $63,550 1% below national
182 Valdosta, GA $63,480 1% below national
183 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $63,450 1% below national
184 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $63,380 1% below national
185 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $63,350 1% below national
186 Dalton, GA $63,340 1% below national
187 Toledo, OH $63,250 1% below national
188 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $63,190 1% below national
189 Killeen-Temple, TX $63,120 1% below national
190 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $63,110 1% below national
191 Mankato, MN $63,070 1% below national
192 North Florida nonmetropolitan area $63,050 1% below national
193 Monroe, MI $63,030 1% below national
194 Odessa, TX $63,020 1% below national
195 Owensboro, KY $63,010 2% below national
196 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $63,000 2% below national
197 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $62,930 2% below national
198 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $62,930 2% below national
199 Rochester, NY $62,840 2% below national
200 North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) $62,840 2% below national
201 Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $62,790 2% below national
202 Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $62,710 2% below national
203 Omaha, NE-IA $62,670 2% below national
204 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI $62,660 2% below national
205 Birmingham, AL $62,630 2% below national
206 Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area $62,610 2% below national
207 Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $62,590 2% below national
208 Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area $62,570 2% below national
209 Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $62,550 2% below national
210 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $62,510 2% below national
211 Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area $62,460 2% below national
212 Ames, IA $62,430 2% below national
213 Reno, NV $62,430 2% below national
214 Billings, MT $62,390 2% below national
215 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $62,370 3% below national
216 Springfield, IL $62,340 3% below national
217 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $62,270 3% below national
218 Huntsville, AL $62,250 3% below national
219 Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $62,250 3% below national
220 Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $62,240 3% below national
221 Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $62,160 3% below national
222 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $62,150 3% below national
223 South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $62,140 3% below national
224 Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $62,070 3% below national
225 Paducah, KY-IL $62,030 3% below national
226 Roanoke, VA $62,010 3% below national
227 Pueblo, CO $62,000 3% below national
228 South Georgia nonmetropolitan area $62,000 3% below national
229 Knoxville, TN $61,980 3% below national
230 Lincoln, NE $61,940 3% below national
231 Altoona, PA $61,920 3% below national
232 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $61,900 3% below national
233 Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $61,870 3% below national
234 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $61,850 3% below national
235 Elizabethtown, KY $61,840 3% below national
236 Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area $61,810 3% below national
237 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $61,720 4% below national
238 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $61,680 4% below national
239 South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $61,660 4% below national
240 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $61,650 4% below national
241 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $61,650 4% below national
242 Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $61,650 4% below national
243 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $61,610 4% below national
244 Midland, MI $61,540 4% below national
245 Macon-Bibb County, GA $61,510 4% below national
246 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $61,510 4% below national
247 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $61,480 4% below national
248 Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area $61,470 4% below national
249 Lexington-Fayette, KY $61,460 4% below national
250 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $61,460 4% below national
251 Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area $61,440 4% below national
252 Cedar Rapids, IA $61,430 4% below national
253 Grand Forks, ND-MN $61,430 4% below national
254 Columbus, GA-AL $61,360 4% below national
255 Midland, TX $61,350 4% below national
256 Minot, ND $61,350 4% below national
257 Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $61,350 4% below national
258 Johnson City, TN $61,330 4% below national
259 Laredo, TX $61,310 4% below national
260 Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $61,300 4% below national
261 Richmond, VA $61,290 4% below national
262 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $61,270 4% below national
263 Bowling Green, KY $61,260 4% below national
264 Arecibo, PR $61,230 4% below national
265 Boise City, ID $61,230 4% below national
266 Elmira, NY $61,220 4% below national
267 Anniston-Oxford, AL $61,200 4% below national
268 Winchester, VA-WV $61,200 4% below national
269 Kokomo, IN $61,180 4% below national
270 Amarillo, TX $61,170 4% below national
271 Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area $61,170 4% below national
272 Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $61,170 4% below national
273 Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area $61,160 4% below national
274 Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $61,160 4% below national
275 Cheyenne, WY $61,150 4% below national
276 Colorado Springs, CO $61,140 4% below national
277 Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $61,130 4% below national
278 Sheboygan, WI $61,110 4% below national
279 Decatur, AL $61,090 5% below national
280 Idaho Falls, ID $61,080 5% below national
281 Jacksonville, FL $61,080 5% below national
282 Kansas City, MO-KS $61,060 5% below national
283 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $61,020 5% below national
284 Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area $61,020 5% below national
285 Bismarck, ND $61,010 5% below national
286 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $61,010 5% below national
287 Spartanburg, SC $60,990 5% below national
288 Mobile, AL $60,970 5% below national
289 Dothan, AL $60,950 5% below national
290 Florence, SC $60,910 5% below national
291 Twin Falls, ID $60,890 5% below national
292 Iowa City, IA $60,870 5% below national
293 Appleton, WI $60,840 5% below national
294 Pocatello, ID $60,840 5% below national
295 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $60,840 5% below national
296 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $60,780 5% below national
297 Charlottesville, VA $60,770 5% below national
298 Niles, MI $60,760 5% below national
299 Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $60,750 5% below national
300 Bozeman, MT $60,740 5% below national
301 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $60,690 5% below national
302 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $60,680 5% below national
303 Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA $60,680 5% below national
304 Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH $60,670 5% below national
305 St. Louis, MO-IL $60,650 5% below national
306 East Georgia nonmetropolitan area $60,630 5% below national
307 Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area $60,620 5% below national
308 Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $60,620 5% below national
309 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $60,600 5% below national
310 Green Bay, WI $60,600 5% below national
311 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $60,580 5% below national
312 Kenosha, WI $60,530 5% below national
313 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $60,510 5% below national
314 Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area $60,510 5% below national
315 Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $60,510 5% below national
316 Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $60,490 5% below national
317 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $60,470 5% below national
318 Naples-Marco Island, FL $60,470 5% below national
319 Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $60,390 6% below national
320 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $60,350 6% below national
321 Eau Claire, WI $60,340 6% below national
322 Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $60,340 6% below national
323 Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area $60,340 6% below national
324 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $60,330 6% below national
325 Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area $60,300 6% below national
326 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $60,260 6% below national
327 Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area $60,240 6% below national
328 Janesville-Beloit, WI $60,220 6% below national
329 Tuscaloosa, AL $60,220 6% below national
330 Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $60,220 6% below national
331 Corpus Christi, TX $60,210 6% below national
332 Fargo, ND-MN $60,210 6% below national
333 Longview, TX $60,210 6% below national
334 South Illinois nonmetropolitan area $60,200 6% below national
335 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $60,190 6% below national
336 Raleigh-Cary, NC $60,170 6% below national
337 Greeley, CO $60,160 6% below national
338 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $60,150 6% below national
339 Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $60,140 6% below national
340 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $60,120 6% below national
341 Tyler, TX $60,120 6% below national
342 Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area $60,090 6% below national
343 Bangor, ME $60,080 6% below national
344 Columbia, SC $60,050 6% below national
345 Sherman-Denison, TX $60,030 6% below national
346 West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area $60,020 6% below national
347 South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $60,000 6% below national
348 Auburn-Opelika, AL $59,970 6% below national
349 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $59,930 6% below national
350 Fond du Lac, WI $59,920 6% below national
351 Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area $59,910 6% below national
352 Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $59,900 6% below national
353 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $59,850 6% below national
354 Chattanooga, TN-GA $59,830 6% below national
355 Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $59,820 6% below national
356 Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $59,810 7% below national
357 Fort Wayne, IN $59,800 7% below national
358 Clarksville, TN-KY $59,760 7% below national
359 Greensboro-High Point, NC $59,730 7% below national
360 Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $59,700 7% below national
361 Ponce, PR $59,660 7% below national
362 Aguadilla, PR $59,650 7% below national
363 Champaign-Urbana, IL $59,650 7% below national
364 Montgomery, AL $59,610 7% below national
365 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $59,590 7% below national
366 West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $59,580 7% below national
367 North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $59,560 7% below national
368 Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area $59,520 7% below national
369 Wausau, WI $59,500 7% below national
370 Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $59,490 7% below national
371 Michigan City-La Porte, IN $59,480 7% below national
372 Rapid City, SD $59,480 7% below national
373 Wildwood-The Villages, FL $59,360 7% below national
374 Cleveland, TN $59,330 7% below national
375 Baton Rouge, LA $59,310 7% below national
376 Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $59,310 7% below national
377 Lubbock, TX $59,220 7% below national
378 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $59,180 7% below national
379 East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $59,130 8% below national
380 Lewiston-Auburn, ME $59,110 8% below national
381 Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $59,110 8% below national
382 Waco, TX $59,100 8% below national
383 Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $59,060 8% below national
384 Decatur, IL $59,050 8% below national
385 Topeka, KS $58,950 8% below national
386 Wichita Falls, TX $58,900 8% below national
387 Wheeling, WV-OH $58,830 8% below national
388 East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area $58,790 8% below national
389 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $58,780 8% below national
390 East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $58,760 8% below national
391 Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area $58,740 8% below national
392 Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $58,720 8% below national
393 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $58,680 8% below national
394 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $58,640 8% below national
395 Wichita, KS $58,640 8% below national
396 Muncie, IN $58,610 8% below national
397 Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $58,610 8% below national
398 South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $58,600 8% below national
399 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $58,580 8% below national
400 Bloomington, IN $58,410 9% below national
401 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $58,300 9% below national
402 Missoula, MT $58,240 9% below national
403 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $58,180 9% below national
404 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $58,130 9% below national
405 Helena, MT $57,980 9% below national
406 Kankakee, IL $57,980 9% below national
407 Gadsden, AL $57,890 10% below national
408 College Station-Bryan, TX $57,870 10% below national
409 Dubuque, IA $57,840 10% below national
410 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $57,770 10% below national
411 Hot Springs, AR $57,730 10% below national
412 Sumter, SC $57,650 10% below national
413 West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $57,610 10% below national
414 Ocala, FL $57,540 10% below national
415 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $57,450 10% below national
416 Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area $57,450 10% below national
417 Peoria, IL $57,440 10% below national
418 Victoria, TX $57,430 10% below national
419 East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $57,390 10% below national
420 Terre Haute, IN $57,320 10% below national
421 West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $57,240 11% below national
422 Charleston, WV $57,020 11% below national
423 Burlington, NC $56,740 11% below national
424 South Florida nonmetropolitan area $56,590 12% below national
425 Winston-Salem, NC $56,510 12% below national
426 Gainesville, FL $56,430 12% below national
427 Jonesboro, AR $56,270 12% below national
428 Greenville, NC $55,490 13% below national
429 Parkersburg-Vienna, WV $55,140 14% below national
430 Tallahassee, FL $55,020 14% below national
431 Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $54,530 15% below national
432 Fayetteville, NC $54,350 15% below national
433 Flagstaff, AZ $53,900 16% below national
434 Port St. Lucie, FL $53,610 16% below national
435 Guayama, PR $53,550 16% below national
436 Abilene, TX $53,480 16% below national
437 West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area $53,350 17% below national
438 Fort Smith, AR-OK $52,620 18% below national
439 North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $52,400 18% below national
440 Grand Junction, CO $52,230 18% below national
441 Mayaguez, PR $52,120 19% below national
442 Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $51,990 19% below national
443 Beckley, WV $51,910 19% below national
444 West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $51,760 19% below national
445 San Angelo, TX $51,590 19% below national
446 Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $51,530 19% below national
447 Lake Charles, LA $51,520 19% below national
448 Jackson, TN $51,470 20% below national
449 North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $51,410 20% below national
450 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $51,400 20% below national
451 Morgantown, WV $51,380 20% below national
452 East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $51,340 20% below national
453 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $51,300 20% below national
454 South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $51,160 20% below national
455 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $50,820 21% below national
456 East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area $50,690 21% below national
457 Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC $50,540 21% below national
458 West Montana nonmetropolitan area $50,490 21% below national
459 Lynchburg, VA $50,470 21% below national
460 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $50,420 21% below national
461 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $50,360 21% below national
462 Lawrence, KS $50,310 21% below national
463 Monroe, LA $50,300 21% below national
464 Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $50,280 21% below national
465 Texarkana, TX-AR $50,270 21% below national
466 Jackson, MS $50,240 21% below national
467 Asheville, NC $50,080 22% below national
468 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $50,040 22% below national
469 Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $49,980 22% below national
470 Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area $49,650 22% below national
471 Kansas nonmetropolitan area $49,570 23% below national
472 Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $49,570 23% below national
473 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $49,540 23% below national
474 Manhattan, KS $49,520 23% below national
475 Springfield, MO $49,380 23% below national
476 Goldsboro, NC $49,240 23% below national
477 East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area $49,230 23% below national
478 St. Joseph, MO-KS $49,140 23% below national
479 Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area $49,140 23% below national
480 Evansville, IN $49,120 23% below national
481 Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $48,850 24% below national
482 Oklahoma City, OK $48,780 24% below national
483 Joplin, MO-KS $48,770 24% below national
484 Rocky Mount, NC $48,670 24% below national
485 Sebring, FL $48,660 24% below national
486 Jacksonville, NC $48,370 24% below national
487 Yuma, AZ $48,360 24% below national
488 Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $48,340 24% below national
489 Great Falls, MT $48,320 24% below national
490 Wilmington, NC $48,240 25% below national
491 Tulsa, OK $48,220 25% below national
492 Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $48,140 25% below national
493 Arizona nonmetropolitan area $48,120 25% below national
494 Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ $47,980 25% below national
495 Jefferson City, MO $47,960 25% below national
496 Alexandria, LA $47,950 25% below national
497 Columbia, MO $47,920 25% below national
498 Lafayette, LA $47,770 25% below national
499 Hattiesburg, MS $47,650 26% below national
500 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $47,600 26% below national
501 Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $47,590 26% below national
502 Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $47,560 26% below national
503 Hammond, LA $47,470 26% below national
504 Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $47,440 26% below national
505 West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $47,410 26% below national
506 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $47,400 26% below national
507 Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $47,360 26% below national
508 Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area $47,340 26% below national
509 Lawton, OK $47,330 26% below national
510 North Missouri nonmetropolitan area $47,330 26% below national
511 Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area $47,280 26% below national
512 Tucson, AZ $47,220 26% below national
513 Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area $47,160 26% below national
514 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL $47,100 26% below national
515 Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $46,870 27% below national
516 Enid, OK $46,840 27% below national
517 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ $46,460 27% below national
518 Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area $46,140 28% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 25 (education) with comparable pay and career paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education make?
The median annual salary for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education is $63,970 ($N/A/hour). The salary range spans from $47,960 at the 10th percentile to $104,340 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education the most?
Washington pays the highest median salary for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education at $102,350/year, which is +60% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
The typical entry-level education for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.3 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.8 per 100 workers.
Is Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education a good career?
Employment for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education is projected to decline 2% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 91,000 openings are projected each year.
How does Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay vary by state?
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Washington at $102,350/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $51,540/year. BLS data covers 54 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
The highest-paying metro area for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education is Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA at $104,650/year. BLS reports wage data for 518 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $81,450/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $102,350/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.