$Who Earns What

How much does a elementary teacher make?

US Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

Answer: A typical elementary teacher in the United States makes $63,970 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Yearly pay of a typical person doing this job in the US
$63,970

Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 1.4 million people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).

Lower earner
$47,960
10th from the bottom of 100
Typical person
$63,970
Right in the middle (median)
Higher earner
$104,340
10th from the top of 100

If 100 people had this job

Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-right

Hover over a person to see their yearly pay

48 of 100
not many

Elementary teacher pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)

Elementary teacher pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$47,960$63,970$104,340about 1.4 million
States where elementary teachers earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
Washington$102,350about 29,000
California$99,650about 155,000
District of Columbia$96,580about 4,000
Massachusetts$94,000about 30,000
Rhode Island$90,930about 4,000

Why does pay differ?

In the U.S., many public-school districts set pay steps by teaching experience and education, while pay also differs by state and district. Pay can also vary between public and private schools; public schools require a state license to teach.

What if you lived in a different state?

Pay varies a lot by state in the US
Whole US$63,970
Washington$102,350
California$99,650
District of Columbia$96,580
Massachusetts$94,000
Rhode Island$90,930
South Dakota$50,130
Mississippi$49,790
Oklahoma$48,200

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

What does a elementary teacher do?

Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level. Excludes “Special Education Teachers” (25-2050) and “Substitute Teachers, Short-Term” (25-3031).

What's a typical day like?

They lead reading, math, and science lessons, switching between whole-class teaching and small groups while watching students learn. During breaks or after school, they grade work, prepare lessons, and meet with families or coworkers.

How to get this job

In the U.S., earn a bachelor's degree and complete teacher training with student teaching; another major can work if you add a teacher-preparation program. Then pass your state's required tests and background check and get a public-school license for your grade.

Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)

Good for people who like helping and teaching and creating.

Did you know?

Some U.S. teachers in year-round schools work for nine weeks, then take a three-week break instead of one long summer vacation.

What about Japan?

Nearly the same job
US
Elementary teacher (typical)
$63,970
School teacher (K-9) (average)
$49,011

The US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.

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Sources and data

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

Pages used for the text

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY