State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Elementary School Teacher Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn a median of $63,970 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 2.0% through 2034, with about 91,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 25-2021Educational Instruction and LibraryLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $63,970
- Projected growth
- -2.0%
- Openings a year
- 91,000
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Art Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Elementary Classroom Teacher, Elementary School Teacher, Elementary Teacher, Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher).
How much do Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education make?
10th percentile$47,960
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$57,710
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$63,970
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$81,450
Upper quartile
90th percentile$104,340
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $63,970 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | N/A |
| Mean annual wage | $72,650 |
| People employed | 1,388,390 |
Versus all US occupations
At $63,970, Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn 25% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,990 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $77,355, this is 17% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $104,340 or more while the bottom 10% earn $47,960, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 49% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Washington pays the most at $102,350, and still leads at $95,643 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $102,350 | $95,643 | 28,980 |
| California | $99,650 | $90,002 | 155,160 |
| District of Columbia | $96,580 | $87,879 | 3,750 |
| Massachusetts | $94,000 | $88,883 | 29,930 |
| Rhode Island | $90,930 | $88,903 | 3,830 |
| New York | $85,760 | $79,466 | 101,410 |
| Connecticut | $80,600 | $77,792 | 16,330 |
| Alaska | $79,260 | $77,433 | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | $78,200 | $71,872 | 40,300 |
| Maryland | $77,680 | $74,010 | 29,610 |
Is Elementary School Teacher a growing career?
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education-2.0%
All US occupations3.1%
-2.0% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Declining
BLS projects employment of Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education to change -2.0% over 2024–2034, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.1%. That is 27,900 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 91,000 openings are projected each year, 6.4% of the 1,422,700 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of kindergarten and elementary school teachers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The number of students enrolling in public kindergarten and elementary schools is expected to decrease over the projections decade. The increase in charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling options provides families with alternatives to traditional public schools, potentially leading to a shift in enrollment numbers.
Employment growth for kindergarten and elementary school teachers also will depend on state and local government budgets. If state and local governments experience budget deficits, they may lay off employees, including teachers.
How to become an Elementary School Teacher
All states require teachers in public schools to be licensed or certified for the specific grade level they will teach. The license is issued by the state, and normally requires a bachelor's degree, completion of a state-approved educator preparation program including student teaching, a background check, and passing the tests that state specifies. Those who teach in private schools typically do not need a license, and every state offers an alternative certification route for people who already hold a bachelor's degree.
The credential path, step by step
- Earn a bachelor's degree4 years
Public elementary school teachers typically need a bachelor's degree in elementary education, and private schools typically have the same requirement. In some states public schools instead require a content-area major. Those who already hold a degree in another subject can still qualify by completing a teacher education program.
- Complete a state-approved educator preparation program
This is the actual gate, and the approving body is the state, not a national accreditor — a Commission-approved program in California, a TEA-approved educator preparation program in Texas. Programs teach how to present information to young students and how to work with students of varying abilities and backgrounds.
- Complete student teaching
Preparation programs typically include a student-teaching placement in which candidates work with a mentor teacher and get experience teaching students in a classroom setting. Completion of a student teaching program is generally required for certification.
- Pass the tests your state requires
Generally a general teaching certification test plus a test of the subject you will teach. Check which test your state uses before you register: many use ETS Praxis, Texas uses TExES (including a standalone Science of Teaching Reading exam for Pre-K–6), and California uses CBEST and CSET.
- Pass a background check and apply for the state license
The license or certificate is issued for the specific grade level you will teach. Alternative certification routes exist in every state for degree holders, and some let you begin teaching under supervision while you complete the program.
Exams you have to pass
Praxis tests (Praxis)
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators is used by colleges and universities to evaluate candidates seeking to enter teacher preparation programs, and by many states as part of licensing. Praxis Subject Assessments cover the content area a candidate will teach. Each state sets its own requirements and qualifying scores, and some states accept a combination of Praxis and their own tests.
Administered by ETS.
Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES)
Texas uses its own certification exams rather than Praxis. Candidates receiving a first Texas certificate for a classroom teaching area must pass a Pedagogy test in addition to the required content-pedagogy test or tests, and since January 2021 all candidates who will teach students in grades Pre-K–6 must also demonstrate proficiency on a standalone Science of Teaching Reading exam.
Administered by Pearson, for the Texas Education Agency.
California Basic Educational Skills Test and California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CBEST and CSET)
California uses its own examinations rather than Praxis. For the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, subject matter competence can be met by passing CSET: Multiple Subjects together with the CSET: Writing Skills Examination, or through an approved combination of coursework and examination.
Administered by California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
- Program accreditation
State approval of educator preparation programs
The gate for licensure is a state-approved program, not a national accreditation. California requires applicants for a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (the elementary credential) to complete a Commission-approved multiple subject teacher preparation program; Texas requires candidates seeking initial teacher certification to go through a TEA-approved educator preparation program.
- Program accreditation
CAEP · Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
A voluntary national accreditation held by educator preparation providers, covering content and pedagogical knowledge, clinical partnerships and practice, and candidate quality. Roughly 600 providers participate.
- How long the training takes
4 years for a bachelor's degree that includes a teacher preparation program and student teaching
Career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree in another subject complete a teacher education program separately. Every state offers an alternative certification route for them; some alternative programs allow candidates to begin teaching immediately after graduation under the supervision of an experienced teacher, while others require education classes before you can teach.
- Continuing education
Set by each state
Teachers are frequently required to complete professional development classes to keep their license or certification, and some states require a master's degree to be completed after certification. The specific requirement is set by each state.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
All states require public school teachers to be licensed or certified in the specific grade level they will teach; private school teachers typically do not need a license. Requirements vary by state but generally involve a bachelor's degree with a minimum grade point average, completion of a student teaching program, passing a background check, and passing a general teaching certification test plus a test demonstrating knowledge of the subject to be taught. Which tests those are differs materially: many states adopt the ETS Praxis tests, Texas uses its own TExES examinations, and California uses CBEST and CSET. In some states public schools require elementary teachers to major in a content area such as mathematics rather than in elementary education. Some states require teachers to earn a master's degree after receiving their certification and obtaining a job. All states offer an alternative route to certification for people who already have a bachelor's degree but lack the required education courses.
Who governs the credential
- State education agencies and educator credentialing boards — Issue the teaching license or certificate, approve the educator preparation programs that qualify candidates for it, and choose which examinations candidates must pass. Examples are the Texas Education Agency and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) — The national professional accreditor for educator preparation: it reviews the departments, schools and colleges that prepare teachers against the CAEP standards. It was formed by the consolidation of NCATE and TEAC, is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and around 600 educator preparation providers participate. Licensure itself turns on completing a program approved by the state you want to teach in.
- ETS — Develops and administers the Praxis tests. Colleges and universities use Praxis Core to evaluate candidates entering teacher preparation programs, and many states require Praxis scores as part of licensing — but each state and licensing organization determines its own test and qualifying-score requirements, and not every state uses Praxis.
Credential detail for elementary school teachers is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers · checked August 23, 2026
- CAEP — Initial-Licensure Level Standards · checked August 23, 2026
- CAEP — About CAEP · checked August 23, 2026
- ETS Praxis — State requirements · checked August 23, 2026
- Texas Education Agency — Educator Certification Exams · checked August 23, 2026
- California Commission on Teacher Credentialing — Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (CL-561C) · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers usually must have a bachelor’s degree. In addition, public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or license.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as elementary school teachers, except special education.
- Bachelor's Degree78.2%
- Master's Degree21.8%
What does an Elementary School Teacher do?
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers instruct young students in basic subjects, such as math and reading, in order to prepare them for middle school.
Day-to-day 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.
- 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.
- 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers generally work during school hours when students are present. They may meet with parents, students, and other teachers before and after school. They often spend time in the evenings and on weekends grading papers and preparing lessons.
Many kindergarten and elementary school teachers work the traditional 10-month school year and have a 2-month break during the summer. They also have a short midwinter break. Some teachers work during the summer.
Physical demands
- On their feet more than half the working day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
- Dealing with customers or the public is very important
Pressure and stakes
- Handling conflict situations at least monthly
- Mistakes are not usually serious
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where elementary school teachers, except special education work
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 84% |
|---|---|
| Elementary and secondary schools; private | 13% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Learning Strategies4.3/5
- Speaking4.1/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Monitoring4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Active Learning3.8/5
Transferable skills
- Instructing4.3/5
- Social Perceptiveness4.0/5
- Coordination3.9/5
- Service Orientation3.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Time Management3.8/5
- Persuasion3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
Tools and software
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
- Computer based training software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Desktop communications software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits an Elementary School Teacher?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic2.6
Investigative3.4
Artisticprimary3.9
Socialprimary7.0
Enterprising2.6
Conventionalprimary3.8
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Elementary School Teacher: frequently asked questions
How much do Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education make?
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn a median of $63,970 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 25% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. The middle half earn between $57,710 and $81,450. The top 10% earn $104,340 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Elementary School Teacher?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 78.2% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Elementary School Teacher a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 2.0% over 2024–2034, a loss of 27,900 jobs (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 91,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Elementary School Teacher do?
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers instruct young students in basic subjects, such as math and reading, in order to prepare them for middle school. A core O*NET task: instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. Employers most often ask for Document management software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education the most?
The highest state medians for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education are Washington ($102,350), California ($99,650), District of Columbia ($96,580) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Elementary School Teacher?
O*NET scores Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education highest on the Social, Artistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFP, ENFJ, ENFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become an Elementary School Teacher?
4 years for a bachelor's degree that includes a teacher preparation program and student teaching. Career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree in another subject complete a teacher education program separately. Every state offers an alternative certification route for them; some alternative programs allow candidates to begin teaching immediately after graduation under the supervision of an experienced teacher, while others require education classes before you can teach.
Do you need a license to work as an Elementary School Teacher?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. All states require public school teachers to be licensed or certified in the specific grade level they will teach; private school teachers typically do not need a license. Requirements vary by state but generally involve a bachelor's degree with a minimum grade point average, completion of a student teaching program, passing a background check, and passing a general teaching certification test plus a test demonstrating knowledge of the subject to be taught. Which tests those are differs materially: many states adopt the ETS Praxis tests, Texas uses its own TExES examinations, and California uses CBEST and CSET. In some states public schools require elementary teachers to major in a content area such as mathematics rather than in elementary education. Some states require teachers to earn a master's degree after receiving their certification and obtaining a job. All states offer an alternative route to certification for people who already have a bachelor's degree but lack the required education courses.
What exams do you have to pass to become an Elementary School Teacher?
The Praxis (Praxis tests), the TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards), the CBEST and CSET (California Basic Educational Skills Test and California Subject Examinations for Teachers). Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators is used by colleges and universities to evaluate candidates seeking to enter teacher preparation programs, and by many states as part of licensing. Praxis Subject Assessments cover the content area a candidate will teach. Each state sets its own requirements and qualifying scores, and some states accept a combination of Praxis and their own tests.