SOC 25-2021 · May 2025
Elementary Teacher Salary
Elementary Teachers in the US earn a median of $63,970 a year, according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. The top 10% earn $104,340 or more, 2.2 times the $47,960 at the 10th percentile.
Median annual
$63,970
Half of all Elementary Teachers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
Hourly
–
Job growth 2025-35
-0.4%
US workers
1,388,390
BLS series
Annual median wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Elementary Teachers is $47,960 – $104,340.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$47,960
25th
$57,710
Median
$63,970
75th
$81,450
90th
$104,340
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Elementary Teachers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $47,960 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $57,710 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $63,970 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $81,450 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $104,340 |
Geography
Elementary Teacher pay by state
Elementary Teachers earn the most in Washington ($102,350, +60% against the national median) and the least in Oklahoma ($48,200). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$63,970
Highest-paying states for elementary teachers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $102,350 | +60% | 28,980 |
| California | $99,650 | +56% | 155,160 |
| D.C. | $96,580 | +51% | 3,750 |
| Massachusetts | $94,000 | +47% | 29,930 |
| Rhode Island | $90,930 | +42% | 3,830 |
| New York | $85,760 | +34% | 101,410 |
| Connecticut | $80,600 | +26% | 16,330 |
| Alaska | $79,260 | +24% | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | $78,200 | +22% | 40,300 |
| Maryland | $77,680 | +21% | 29,610 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $102,350 | 28,980 |
| California | $99,650 | 155,160 |
| D.C. | $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 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Elementary Teachers
Elementary school teachers instruct students in grades 1-5 across core subjects including reading, mathematics, science, and social studies. The role requires a bachelor's degree and state teaching license; many districts also require a master's degree within five years of hire. Pay scales are heavily formulaic, based on years of experience and education level, and vary by district funding and state. OEWS figures exclude the substantial benefits component (pension, summers, health) typical of public-school employment.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $47,960 – $104,340. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Washington, California and D.C.. Pay in Washington runs 2.1 times the level in Oklahoma, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 87,500 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to shrink 0.4% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Elementary Teacher salary in the US?
How much do Elementary Teachers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Elementary Teachers the most?
Is the average Elementary Teacher salary higher than the median?
Is Elementary Teacher a growing career?
Open positions
Open Elementary Teacher roles hiring now
Browse current Elementary Teacher listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 25-2021. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.