383 metro areas

Elementary School Teacher Salary by City (2026)

Elementary school teachers earn the most in Mount Vernon, WA, an average of $106,760 a year, against $72,650 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in El Centro, CA ($110,730 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $72,650BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $106,760Mount Vernon, WA
Best after cost of living: $110,730El Centro, CA
Metro areas: 383With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for elementary school teachers

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

Mount Vernon, WA$106,760
El Centro, CA$105,390
Merced, CA$103,340
San Jose, CA$102,340
Seattle, WA$102,290
Bremerton, WA$101,210
Modesto, CA$99,430
Bellingham, WA$98,520
San Francisco, CA$98,510
Los Angeles, CA$98,150

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for elementary school teachers
Item	Value
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$106,760
El Centro, CA	$105,390
Merced, CA	$103,340
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$102,340
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$102,290
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$101,210
Modesto, CA	$99,430
Bellingham, WA	$98,520
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$98,510
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$98,150

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

El Centro, CA$105,390 nominal$110,730
Merced, CA$103,340 nominal$105,150
Mount Vernon, WA$106,760 nominal$104,210
Visalia, CA$97,060 nominal$97,230
Bremerton, WA$101,210 nominal$95,840
Modesto, CA$99,430 nominal$95,510
Bellingham, WA$98,520 nominal$95,340
Hanford, CA$96,110 nominal$94,590
Yakima, WA$89,870 nominal$94,060
Kingston, NY$94,700 nominal$94,030

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for elementary school teachers
Item	Value
El Centro, CA	$110,730
Merced, CA	$105,150
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$104,210
Visalia, CA	$97,230
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$95,840
Modesto, CA	$95,510
Bellingham, WA	$95,340
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$94,590
Yakima, WA	$94,060
Kingston, NY	$94,030

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Elementary School Teacher salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Elementary School Teacher pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	Mount Vernon, WA	$106,760	$80,790	$119,550	$104,210
2	El Centro, CA	$105,390	$67,860	$123,880	$110,730
3	Merced, CA	$103,340	$77,390	$116,120	$105,150
4	San Jose, CA	$102,340	$72,670	$116,960	$92,680
5	Seattle, WA	$102,290	$72,650	$116,900	$92,040
6	Bremerton, WA	$101,210	$72,840	$115,180	$95,840
7	Modesto, CA	$99,430	$69,720	$114,050	$95,510
8	Bellingham, WA	$98,520	$68,330	$113,390	$95,340
9	San Francisco, CA	$98,510	$67,930	$113,580	$85,210
10	Los Angeles, CA	$98,150	$66,810	$113,590	$86,430
11	Visalia, CA	$97,060	$69,910	$110,430	$97,230
12	Riverside, CA	$96,990	$67,810	$111,370	$91,120
13	New York, NY-NJ	$96,400	$64,460	$112,130	$85,640
14	Hanford, CA	$96,110	$69,780	$109,080	$94,590
15	Napa, CA	$95,140	$66,170	$109,410	$84,530
16	Kingston, NY	$94,700	$65,250	$109,210	$94,030
17	Vallejo, CA	$94,280	$66,170	$108,130	$86,910
18	Santa Maria, CA	$94,060	$66,760	$107,510	$86,450
19	Kennewick, WA	$93,970	$72,970	$104,320	$93,900
20	Sacramento, CA	$93,930	$65,430	$107,960	$88,060
21	Olympia, WA	$93,820	$69,420	$105,830	$90,500
22	Salinas, CA	$93,690	$67,330	$106,660	$85,920
23	Oxnard, CA	$92,780	$63,700	$107,110	$83,940
24	Santa Cruz, CA	$91,820	$64,190	$105,420	$83,550
25	Boston, MA-NH	$91,590	$66,090	$104,150	$84,600
26	Walla Walla, WA	$91,550	$69,710	$102,310	$92,930
27	San Diego, CA	$91,390	$64,260	$104,750	$81,680
28	Barnstable Town, MA	$91,190	$67,630	$102,800	$92,720
29	San Luis Obispo, CA	$90,780	$65,450	$103,260	$83,590
30	Yuba City, CA	$90,780	$64,930	$103,520	$87,090
31	Santa Rosa, CA	$90,620	$65,160	$103,150	$84,080
32	Spokane, WA	$90,480	$66,240	$102,420	$90,170
33	Stockton, CA	$90,390	$65,300	$102,750	$86,010
34	Fresno, CA	$90,130	$60,570	$104,690	$88,230
35	Yakima, WA	$89,870	$65,760	$101,760	$94,060
36	Bridgeport, CT	$89,510	$63,140	$102,500	$83,760
37	Wenatchee, WA	$88,670	$68,500	$98,610	$85,380
38	Chico, CA	$87,890	$63,180	$100,060	$86,850
39	Boulder, CO	$87,870	$64,920	$99,170	$83,530
40	Longview, WA	$87,540	$66,210	$98,040	$89,740
41	Kiryas Joel, NY	$86,520	$57,340	$100,890	$79,070
42	Bakersfield, CA	$85,920	$62,800	$97,310	$85,170
43	Redding, CA	$85,800	$60,460	$98,290	$85,220
44	Portland, OR-WA	$84,670	$57,460	$98,070	$80,320
45	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$84,370	$59,870	$96,440	$77,490
46	Worcester, MA	$83,680	$62,550	$94,080	$81,620
47	Atlantic City, NJ	$82,780	$61,760	$93,130	$83,740
48	Hartford, CT	$82,360	$57,390	$94,660	$80,160
49	Norwich, CT	$82,170	$60,880	$92,660	$81,810
50	Trenton, NJ	$81,800	$63,260	$90,930	$79,280
51	New Haven, CT	$80,960	$56,430	$93,030	$77,430
52	Providence, RI-MA	$80,350	$55,730	$92,480	$78,950
53	Fairbanks, AK	$79,880	$60,460	$89,440	$77,400
54	Waterbury, CT	$79,630	$58,220	$90,180	$79,810
55	Anchorage, AK	$79,620	$63,590	$87,510	$75,530
56	Albany, NY	$79,170	$54,830	$91,160	$79,520
57	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$78,900	$53,370	$91,480	$75,270
58	Chicago, IL-IN	$78,800	$53,210	$91,400	$76,070
59	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$78,650	$56,570	$89,530	$76,690
60	Salt Lake City, UT	$78,510	$54,040	$90,560	$77,830
61	Lexington Park, MD	$78,350	$55,600	$89,560	$77,760
62	Allentown, PA-NJ	$78,000	$57,590	$88,050	$78,020
63	Vineland, NJ	$77,900	$59,680	$86,880	$81,170
64	Amherst Town, MA	$77,170	$56,930	$87,140	$76,980
65	Columbus, OH	$77,060	$53,350	$88,730	$80,720
66	Pittsburgh, PA	$76,870	$56,110	$87,100	$81,200
67	Springfield, MA	$76,670	$59,670	$85,050	$79,810
68	Buffalo, NY	$76,590	$50,480	$89,450	$79,910
69	Baltimore, MD	$76,570	$55,140	$87,120	$73,280
70	Reading, PA	$76,450	$58,270	$85,400	$78,770
71	Brunswick, GA	$76,280	$55,700	$86,420	$86,970
72	State College, PA	$76,160	$57,790	$85,210	$78,710
73	Dayton, OH	$76,010	$54,310	$86,700	$82,000
74	Lancaster, PA	$75,650	$58,680	$84,000	$76,990
75	Burlington, VT	$75,080	$54,660	$85,140	$74,370
76	Akron, OH	$74,990	$49,410	$87,600	$80,310
77	Denver, CO	$74,950	$55,250	$84,650	$70,850
78	Syracuse, NY	$74,860	$58,560	$82,890	$78,190
79	Logan, UT-ID	$74,770	$52,180	$85,890	$77,940
80	York, PA	$74,550	$55,250	$84,060	$77,660
81	Kahului, HI	$74,520	$56,400	$83,440	$68,120
82	Glens Falls, NY	$74,110	$54,570	$83,740	$78,120
83	Pittsfield, MA	$74,070	$54,750	$83,580	$77,880
84	Lebanon, PA	$73,970	$57,430	$82,120	$79,360
85	Atlanta, GA	$73,940	$57,350	$82,110	$73,900
86	Gettysburg, PA	$73,900	$58,290	$81,590	$77,480
87	Utica, NY	$73,750	$54,280	$83,340	$79,580
88	Santa Fe, NM	$73,740	$58,120	$81,440	$74,660
89	Bend, OR	$73,530	$52,110	$84,080	$70,970
90	Chambersburg, PA	$73,280	$56,070	$81,760	$77,430
91	Warner Robins, GA	$73,170	$54,010	$82,610	$78,020
92	Cleveland, OH	$73,140	$50,080	$84,500	$77,870
93	Harrisburg, PA	$73,090	$57,210	$80,920	$74,090
94	Canton, OH	$72,960	$50,480	$84,030	$81,610
95	Detroit, MI	$72,730	$51,580	$83,140	$72,510
96	Salisbury, MD	$72,500	$52,350	$82,420	$75,820
97	Binghamton, NY	$72,400	$55,210	$80,870	$77,960
98	Williamsport, PA	$72,270	$56,170	$80,190	$78,260
99	Portland, ME	$72,230	$52,590	$81,900	$70,910
100	Lewiston, ID-WA	$72,180	$51,350	$82,430	$79,180
101	Farmington, NM	$72,170	$59,250	$78,540	$82,290
102	Grants Pass, OR	$72,060	$52,350	$81,770	$73,710
103	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$72,010	$53,940	$80,910	$73,520
104	Albuquerque, NM	$71,980	$58,860	$78,440	$75,340
105	Corvallis, OR	$71,910	$50,470	$82,460	$69,130
106	Scranton, PA	$71,690	$52,110	$81,320	$76,630
107	Fort Collins, CO	$71,570	$56,890	$78,800	$70,770
108	Salem, OR	$71,550	$50,280	$82,030	$69,030
109	Bloomington, IL	$71,320	$49,640	$82,000	$76,250
110	Springfield, OH	$71,280	$48,550	$82,470	$78,780
111	Harrisonburg, VA	$71,260	$57,430	$78,070	$75,100
112	Athens, GA	$71,210	$53,400	$79,980	$76,290
113	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$71,030	$49,130	$81,820	$74,480
114	Las Cruces, NM	$70,980	$56,740	$77,990	$78,680
115	Madison, WI	$70,940	$53,960	$79,310	$72,920
116	Ogden, UT	$70,880	$53,220	$79,580	$70,630
117	Ithaca, NY	$70,620	$55,520	$78,070	$68,350
118	Provo, UT	$70,620	$48,890	$81,320	$71,890
119	St. George, UT	$70,190	$51,420	$79,430	$72,120
120	Urban Honolulu, HI	$70,090	$55,340	$77,360	$63,170
121	Rockford, IL	$70,020	$48,270	$80,730	$75,980
122	St. Cloud, MN	$69,930	$51,920	$78,800	$79,800
123	Medford, OR	$69,870	$51,830	$78,760	$68,880
124	Rochester, MN	$69,840	$52,930	$78,170	$76,900
125	Toledo, OH	$69,770	$47,150	$80,910	$76,290
126	Eugene, OR	$69,710	$50,490	$79,180	$68,630
127	Dover, DE	$69,660	$54,190	$77,280	$71,440
128	Albany, OR	$69,650	$50,560	$79,040	$68,220
129	Manchester, NH	$69,210	$53,370	$77,010	$65,500
130	Mankato, MN	$69,210	$51,520	$77,920	$76,090
131	Lima, OH	$69,190	$48,980	$79,150	$77,160
132	Springfield, IL	$69,000	$49,250	$78,730	$74,400
133	Milwaukee, WI	$68,930	$50,420	$78,040	$71,110
134	Duluth, MN-WI	$68,790	$49,200	$78,450	$77,490
135	Reno, NV	$68,730	$53,380	$76,290	$68,040
136	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$68,580	$52,760	$76,370	$72,820
137	Ann Arbor, MI	$68,450	$50,020	$77,530	$67,850
138	Saginaw, MI	$68,060	$49,580	$77,170	$74,880
139	Gainesville, GA	$68,020	$53,310	$75,260	$70,290
140	Johnstown, PA	$67,930	$52,530	$75,510	$79,050
141	Midland, TX	$67,870	$43,850	$79,710	$70,860
142	Staunton, VA	$67,840	$53,110	$75,090	$74,440
143	Valdosta, GA	$67,690	$46,500	$78,130	$76,680
144	Rome, GA	$67,610	$52,140	$75,230	$74,990
145	Erie, PA	$67,520	$53,060	$74,640	$74,240
146	Bay City, MI	$67,510	$49,850	$76,210	$73,440
147	Lincoln, NE	$67,440	$58,410	$71,880	$73,640
148	Kenosha, WI	$67,310	$50,030	$75,820	$66,570
149	Lansing, MI	$67,300	$48,970	$76,330	$70,850
150	Flint, MI	$67,230	$48,090	$76,650	$72,260
151	Rochester, NY	$67,220	$49,960	$75,720	$69,270
152	Watertown, NY	$67,170	$51,190	$75,040	$76,600
153	Savannah, GA	$67,100	$53,260	$73,920	$70,480
154	Traverse City, MI	$67,070	$49,890	$75,520	$71,830
155	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$67,030	$48,060	$76,370	$72,020
156	Muskegon, MI	$67,020	$49,960	$75,420	$72,440
157	Youngstown, OH	$66,890	$47,940	$76,220	$76,540
158	Jacksonville, FL	$66,850	$50,220	$75,040	$67,200
159	Dalton, GA	$66,780	$52,130	$74,000	$74,330
160	Jackson, MI	$66,570	$46,860	$76,280	$72,530
161	Odessa, TX	$66,460	$59,930	$69,680	$70,780
162	Midland, MI	$66,400	$47,130	$75,890	$72,240
163	Winchester, VA-WV	$66,270	$54,250	$72,190	$68,710
164	Battle Creek, MI	$66,250	$48,170	$75,160	$73,170
165	Kalamazoo, MI	$66,170	$46,320	$75,950	$69,770
166	Racine, WI	$66,030	$50,320	$73,770	$68,810
167	Monroe, MI	$65,830	$47,750	$74,740	$70,410
168	Hilton Head Island, SC	$65,800	$50,880	$73,140	$67,130
169	Elmira, NY	$65,600	$47,130	$74,710	$69,490
170	Charlottesville, VA	$65,510	$54,670	$70,840	$66,070
171	Sheboygan, WI	$65,510	$50,830	$72,750	$69,680
172	Dallas, TX	$65,400	$56,330	$69,870	$63,440
173	Oshkosh, WI	$65,330	$50,480	$72,650	$70,300
174	Grand Rapids, MI	$65,310	$47,050	$74,310	$68,350
175	Weirton, WV-OH	$65,250	$47,970	$73,750	$73,290
176	Charleston, SC	$65,160	$51,620	$71,830	$64,540
177	Cheyenne, WY	$65,120	$57,000	$69,110	$67,490
178	Appleton, WI	$65,090	$50,490	$72,280	$70,430
179	Mansfield, OH	$65,080	$42,890	$76,010	$73,230
180	Niles, MI	$65,030	$47,390	$73,720	$70,400
181	Wildwood, FL	$65,020	$52,330	$71,260	$76,110
182	Greeley, CO	$64,990	$51,510	$71,630	$64,880
183	Las Vegas, NV	$64,890	$51,550	$71,460	$64,750
184	Shreveport, LA	$64,580	$47,570	$72,960	$76,190
185	La Crosse, WI-MN	$64,460	$47,430	$72,840	$70,240
186	Hinesville, GA	$64,450	$47,960	$72,570	$68,610
187	Pueblo, CO	$64,420	$49,760	$71,650	$70,200
188	Bismarck, ND	$64,360	$53,630	$69,640	$70,710
189	Nashville, TN	$64,250	$49,800	$71,360	$66,690
190	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$64,120	$49,310	$71,410	$65,230
191	McAllen, TX	$64,040	$54,010	$68,970	$74,560
192	Minot, ND	$64,020	$49,800	$71,020	$73,560
193	Omaha, NE-IA	$63,870	$48,740	$71,330	$69,490
194	Augusta, GA-SC	$63,840	$47,910	$71,690	$69,460
195	Green Bay, WI	$63,820	$50,580	$70,340	$68,560
196	Richmond, VA	$63,780	$51,780	$69,690	$65,180
197	Billings, MT	$63,740	$44,020	$73,450	$68,150
198	North Port, FL	$63,730	$49,770	$70,610	$62,230
199	Altoona, PA	$63,690	$50,380	$70,250	$71,160
200	Killeen, TX	$63,600	$55,180	$67,740	$69,790
201	Davenport, IA-IL	$63,460	$46,070	$72,030	$71,240
202	Fond du Lac, WI	$63,340	$48,400	$70,700	$69,120
203	Wausau, WI	$63,140	$48,950	$70,130	$68,150
204	Bangor, ME	$63,090	$46,400	$71,310	$65,370
205	Eau Claire, WI	$63,040	$49,120	$69,900	$67,930
206	St. Louis, MO-IL	$63,020	$46,670	$71,070	$66,280
207	Columbus, GA-AL	$62,940	$49,370	$69,630	$70,480
208	Indianapolis, IN	$62,940	$48,380	$70,100	$65,770
209	Lexington, KY	$62,910	$47,880	$70,310	$67,730
210	Grand Island, NE	$62,890	$45,690	$71,360	$72,570
211	Houston, TX	$62,840	$50,550	$68,900	$63,710
212	Roanoke, VA	$62,830	$49,480	$69,400	$67,110
213	Janesville, WI	$62,790	$48,570	$69,790	$67,010
214	Wheeling, WV-OH	$62,690	$48,340	$69,750	$70,980
215	El Paso, TX	$62,660	$53,110	$67,370	$69,690
216	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$62,500	$46,130	$70,560	$72,290
217	Blacksburg, VA	$62,450	$48,160	$69,490	$67,360
218	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$62,440	$48,140	$69,490	$72,050
219	Birmingham, AL	$62,290	$49,810	$68,440	$67,970
220	Ames, IA	$62,190	$47,710	$69,330	$70,010
221	Brownsville, TX	$62,090	$55,480	$65,350	$72,220
222	Huntsville, AL	$61,750	$49,570	$67,750	$66,350
223	Laredo, TX	$61,690	$51,940	$66,490	$70,940
224	Decatur, AL	$61,630	$50,630	$67,060	$70,670
225	Phoenix, AZ	$61,550	$46,150	$69,130	$59,570
226	Baton Rouge, LA	$61,540	$47,240	$68,590	$67,790
227	Kansas City, MO-KS	$61,540	$47,430	$68,480	$66,500
228	Greenville, SC	$61,450	$46,620	$68,750	$65,890
229	Johnson City, TN	$61,400	$49,210	$67,400	$69,830
230	Cedar Rapids, IA	$61,380	$45,750	$69,070	$68,990
231	Fargo, ND-MN	$61,370	$45,460	$69,210	$67,540
232	Macon, GA	$61,370	$45,280	$69,300	$69,320
233	Fayetteville, AR	$61,290	$52,330	$65,690	$67,090
234	Daphne, AL	$61,180	$50,400	$66,490	$64,610
235	Naples, FL	$61,060	$52,340	$65,350	$59,170
236	Boise City, ID	$60,890	$45,000	$68,710	$61,890
237	Champaign, IL	$60,820	$44,520	$68,850	$65,610
238	Colorado Springs, CO	$60,710	$47,480	$67,230	$60,280
239	Fort Wayne, IN	$60,690	$47,200	$67,340	$65,560
240	Helena, MT	$60,520	$43,630	$68,840	$63,260
241	Kokomo, IN	$60,510	$48,400	$66,470	$67,500
242	Grand Junction, CO	$60,490	$49,910	$65,710	$63,360
243	San Antonio, TX	$60,340	$50,690	$65,100	$63,710
244	Austin, TX	$60,310	$54,330	$63,250	$61,500
245	Columbia, SC	$60,300	$48,290	$66,210	$64,380
246	Bozeman, MT	$60,260	$44,530	$68,000	$58,780
247	Iowa City, IA	$60,250	$45,840	$67,350	$65,840
248	Tampa, FL	$60,190	$49,190	$65,610	$59,660
249	Waterloo, IA	$60,150	$45,770	$67,230	$69,090
250	Kankakee, IL	$60,140	$44,930	$67,630	$62,390
251	Spartanburg, SC	$60,120	$47,400	$66,380	$66,030
252	Idaho Falls, ID	$60,070	$45,830	$67,080	$63,630
253	Cleveland, TN	$60,060	$50,060	$64,980	$68,190
254	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$59,940	$48,340	$65,650	$65,030
255	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$59,800	$47,130	$66,040	$65,380
256	Corpus Christi, TX	$59,780	$54,020	$62,610	$64,510
257	Lewiston, ME	$59,720	$44,870	$67,040	$63,040
258	Elkhart, IN	$59,640	$47,260	$65,740	$66,030
259	Lafayette, IN	$59,600	$49,310	$64,660	$63,790
260	Miami, FL	$59,550	$50,180	$64,160	$52,170
261	Pocatello, ID	$59,540	$44,400	$66,990	$66,970
262	Raleigh, NC	$59,510	$47,220	$65,560	$60,630
263	Slidell, LA	$59,430	$53,290	$62,450	$64,090
264	Florence, SC	$59,410	$47,790	$65,130	$68,470
265	Des Moines, IA	$59,400	$45,870	$66,070	$64,780
266	Amarillo, TX	$59,270	$53,340	$62,190	$64,550
267	Knoxville, TN	$59,170	$48,810	$64,270	$63,920
268	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$59,000	$46,980	$64,920	$68,690
269	Cape Coral, FL	$58,960	$50,930	$62,920	$57,610
270	New Orleans, LA	$58,940	$47,050	$64,800	$63,650
271	Owensboro, KY	$58,790	$46,450	$64,870	$66,350
272	Sherman, TX	$58,520	$52,240	$61,620	$62,410
273	Palm Bay, FL	$58,480	$48,120	$63,580	$58,480
274	Michigan City, IN	$58,470	$46,200	$64,510	$63,770
275	Anniston, AL	$58,460	$47,160	$64,020	$68,020
276	South Bend, IN-MI	$58,440	$46,990	$64,070	$62,930
277	Orlando, FL	$58,420	$48,240	$63,430	$57,600
278	Twin Falls, ID	$58,410	$45,810	$64,620	$63,410
279	Charlotte, NC-SC	$58,400	$46,540	$64,240	$59,990
280	Peoria, IL	$58,350	$43,580	$65,630	$63,960
281	Elizabethtown, KY	$58,330	$46,260	$64,280	$64,400
282	Paducah, KY-IL	$58,330	$45,420	$64,680	$67,760
283	Bloomington, IN	$58,280	$45,750	$64,460	$61,290
284	Dothan, AL	$58,280	$46,120	$64,260	$69,520
285	Mobile, AL	$58,200	$46,440	$64,000	$66,060
286	Crestview, FL	$58,150	$49,530	$62,400	$59,930
287	Decatur, IL	$58,130	$45,290	$64,450	$65,740
288	Wichita, KS	$58,070	$49,360	$62,360	$65,290
289	Beaumont, TX	$57,910	$48,830	$62,380	$64,310
290	Houma, LA	$57,910	$51,860	$60,900	$68,050
291	Longview, TX	$57,900	$47,120	$63,210	$64,700
292	Florence, AL	$57,860	$43,750	$64,810	$68,220
293	Clarksville, TN-KY	$57,800	$44,960	$64,130	$63,550
294	Wichita Falls, TX	$57,690	$48,130	$62,400	$64,450
295	Dubuque, IA	$57,680	$44,560	$64,140	$66,050
296	Muncie, IN	$57,620	$46,710	$63,000	$65,370
297	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$57,560	$45,680	$63,410	$65,100
298	Little Rock, AR	$57,530	$48,880	$61,790	$64,380
299	Evansville, IN	$57,510	$45,830	$63,260	$62,830
300	Auburn, AL	$57,410	$45,340	$63,360	$65,290
301	Kingsport, TN-VA	$57,400	$47,690	$62,180	$66,400
302	Missoula, MT	$57,390	$41,980	$64,980	$59,510
303	Lubbock, TX	$57,270	$47,010	$62,320	$62,720
304	Sumter, SC	$57,180	$45,690	$62,840	$64,960
305	Tuscaloosa, AL	$57,100	$46,440	$62,350	$65,090
306	Terre Haute, IN	$57,090	$46,770	$62,180	$65,030
307	Gainesville, FL	$56,820	$47,740	$61,300	$58,740
308	Tyler, TX	$56,670	$47,650	$61,110	$61,490
309	Bowling Green, KY	$56,600	$45,840	$61,900	$62,760
310	Deltona, FL	$56,580	$48,440	$60,590	$56,940
311	Greensboro, NC	$56,580	$46,210	$61,690	$60,930
312	Panama City, FL	$56,560	$47,260	$61,140	$58,130
313	Hot Springs, AR	$56,370	$50,200	$59,410	$65,750
314	Montgomery, AL	$56,370	$43,100	$62,900	$62,860
315	Lynchburg, VA	$56,300	$47,320	$60,720	$63,000
316	Topeka, KS	$56,140	$48,590	$59,850	$63,210
317	Ocala, FL	$56,020	$45,360	$61,270	$58,820
318	Jonesboro, AR	$55,890	$48,920	$59,320	$65,080
319	Sierra Vista, AZ	$55,850	$40,370	$63,480	$62,580
320	College Station, TX	$55,790	$48,430	$59,410	$61,340
321	Ponce, PR	$55,750	$40,180	$63,430	N/A
322	Rapid City, SD	$55,710	$47,030	$59,990	$62,480
323	Oklahoma City, OK	$55,650	$44,640	$61,080	$61,550
324	Waco, TX	$55,640	$45,360	$60,700	$60,120
325	Pensacola, FL	$55,470	$48,550	$58,880	$56,770
326	Great Falls, MT	$55,390	$41,520	$62,230	$57,190
327	Gadsden, AL	$55,380	$44,510	$60,730	$64,660
328	Arecibo, PR	$55,370	$39,500	$63,190	N/A
329	Charleston, WV	$55,150	$48,970	$58,190	$62,160
330	Flagstaff, AZ	$54,880	$45,420	$59,540	$54,700
331	Parkersburg, WV	$54,880	$48,200	$58,170	$63,030
332	Port St. Lucie, FL	$54,840	$49,740	$57,360	$54,720
333	Abilene, TX	$54,740	$46,780	$58,660	$60,580
334	San Angelo, TX	$54,700	$47,800	$58,090	$59,170
335	Guayama, PR	$54,600	$44,510	$59,580	N/A
336	Gulfport, MS	$54,490	$48,030	$57,670	$60,540
337	Tucson, AZ	$54,470	$41,780	$60,720	$56,210
338	Tallahassee, FL	$54,400	$45,820	$58,620	$57,920
339	Winston, NC	$54,330	$45,460	$58,690	$59,030
340	Burlington, NC	$54,310	$45,590	$58,610	$58,280
341	Springfield, MO	$54,100	$43,990	$59,080	$61,070
342	Lawrence, KS	$53,880	$46,820	$57,360	$59,710
343	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$53,810	$42,480	$59,380	$62,290
344	Lakeland, FL	$53,660	$48,740	$56,080	$55,240
345	Durham, NC	$53,630	$44,860	$57,960	$54,960
346	Greenville, NC	$53,550	$43,450	$58,520	$60,580
347	Morgantown, WV	$53,470	$45,550	$57,360	$57,300
348	Jackson, TN	$53,370	$43,780	$58,090	$62,400
349	Sebastian, FL	$53,320	$44,470	$57,680	$54,240
350	Joplin, MO-KS	$53,120	$42,860	$58,170	$61,970
351	San Juan, PR	$52,980	$35,420	$61,620	N/A
352	Columbia, MO	$52,950	$41,400	$58,640	$59,200
353	Beckley, WV	$52,940	$47,540	$55,600	$59,910
354	Manhattan, KS	$52,770	$47,240	$55,500	$58,530
355	Tulsa, OK	$52,720	$45,160	$56,450	$59,090
356	Sebring, FL	$52,630	$43,040	$57,350	$56,920
357	Monroe, LA	$52,550	$42,740	$57,380	$62,860
358	Fayetteville, NC	$52,450	$44,400	$56,410	$57,020
359	Pinehurst, NC	$52,400	$43,780	$56,640	$59,320
360	Texarkana, TX-AR	$52,380	$45,390	$55,830	$62,350
361	Yuma, AZ	$52,360	$44,580	$56,190	$56,480
362	Lake Charles, LA	$52,340	$47,220	$54,860	$60,970
363	Asheville, NC	$52,240	$43,800	$56,390	$54,130
364	Mayaguez, PR	$52,150	$31,650	$62,240	N/A
365	Aguadilla, PR	$52,100	$31,450	$62,280	N/A
366	Wilmington, NC	$52,020	$42,940	$56,490	$53,950
367	Hickory, NC	$52,010	$44,500	$55,700	$58,780
368	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$51,930	$41,920	$56,850	$60,330
369	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$51,830	$45,410	$54,990	$57,190
370	Jefferson City, MO	$51,580	$40,980	$56,800	$58,630
371	Lafayette, LA	$51,320	$45,330	$54,270	$58,850
372	Lawton, OK	$51,240	$44,380	$54,610	$59,620
373	Jackson, MS	$51,200	$42,840	$55,320	$57,500
374	Victoria, TX	$51,130	$39,080	$57,070	$56,910
375	Goldsboro, NC	$50,820	$43,850	$54,250	$57,450
376	Hattiesburg, MS	$50,800	$45,530	$53,400	$57,970
377	Hammond, LA	$50,750	$42,940	$54,590	$60,090
378	Jacksonville, NC	$50,160	$43,620	$53,380	$54,470
379	Rocky Mount, NC	$49,980	$42,950	$53,440	$56,790
380	Prescott Valley, AZ	$49,880	$41,250	$54,130	$50,770
381	Alexandria, LA	$49,680	$45,740	$51,630	$57,980
382	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$49,230	$42,240	$52,680	$52,320
383	Enid, OK	$48,500	$41,170	$52,110	$57,550

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Elementary School Teacher salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays elementary school teachers the most?

Mount Vernon, WA, where the average (mean) wage is $106,760 a year, followed by El Centro, CA ($105,390), Merced, CA ($103,340), San Jose, CA ($102,340). The national mean is $72,650 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do elementary school teachers earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in El Centro, CA ($110,730 at national prices, $105,390 nominal), Merced, CA ($105,150 at national prices, $103,340 nominal), Mount Vernon, WA ($104,210 at national prices, $106,760 nominal).

How much do elementary school teachers make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $96,400; Los Angeles, CA: $98,150; Chicago, IL-IN: $78,800; Dallas, TX: $65,400; Houston, TX: $62,840 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do elementary school teachers earn the least?

Of the 383 metro areas with their own estimate, Enid, OK has the lowest mean wage, $48,500. At local prices that is worth $57,550.