Elementary School Teacher Salary in 2026
Median Salary
$63,970
$5,331/mo
Entry Level
$41,700
starting pay
Senior Level
$83,400
experienced
Job Growth
+5%
10-yr outlook
BLS OEWS May 2025 · official national figures
BLS reports Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021) at a national median of $63,970 per year (mean $72,650), with 1,388,390 people employed nationwide. The median above is this BLS figure; the entry, senior and top tiers are Salario estimates calibrated to it. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Elementary School Teacher Overview
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
2-5 years
Industry
Total Jobs (US)
1.4M
5-Year Growth
+15%
Category
Education
Hourly Rate
$30.75/hr
Monthly Pay
$5,331
Reviewed May 18, 2026
2026 Elementary School Teacher Salary Market Notes
Market context
Elementary teacher pay is driven by district salary schedules, state funding, union contract, years of service, degree lane, classroom assignment, and stipends for bilingual, special education, coaching, or hard-to-staff campuses.
What drives higher pay
The strongest salary drivers are licensure, masters lane movement, bilingual or special education credentials, instructional leadership, curriculum work, coaching stipends, summer school, and movement into interventionist or assistant principal roles.
Location note
Large districts may publish higher salaries but also have higher housing costs, pension contribution rules, and workload expectations. The right comparison is district schedule plus benefits, not just statewide average.
Career move
A practical salary move is to map step increases, lane changes, pension vesting, stipends, and healthcare premiums before accepting an offer. A masters degree only pays off when the district salary schedule rewards it.
Use BLS elementary school teacher data as the baseline, then verify local district salary schedules because public teacher compensation is highly local.
Elementary School Teacher Salary Calculator
Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Elementary School Teacher salary in your area.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Elementary School Teacher Salary
$69,000
$5,750/month · $2,654/biweekly · $33.17/hr
Elementary School Teacher Salary Range
Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Elementary School Teacher field.
Entry-level Elementary School Teachers earn around $41,700, while the top 10% earn $95,900 or more.
Top Paying States for Elementary School Teachers
| State | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $75,000 | +$11,030 |
| New York | $74,000 | +$10,030 |
| Illinois | $67,000 | +$3,030 |
| Texas | $63,000 | $-970 |
| Florida | $63,000 | $-970 |
Top Paying Cities for Elementary School Teachers
| City | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Los AngelesBLS metro | $101,860 | +$37,890 |
| New YorkBLS metro | $96,900 | +$32,930 |
| ChicagoBLS metro | $78,390 | +$14,420 |
| HoustonBLS metro | $64,500 | +$530 |
| PhoenixBLS metro | $59,180 | $-4,790 |
Rows marked BLS metro are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in that city's metropolitan statistical area (5 of 5); the remaining rows are Salario estimates that scale the national median by a city cost-of-labor multiplier.
Required Skills & Certifications
Key Skills
Certifications
Elementary School Teacher Career Progression
Typical salary growth path for a Elementary School Teacher from entry level to expert.
$41,700
0-2 years
$63,000
3-7 years
$83,400
8-14 years
$108,400
15+ years
Related Education Jobs
Elementary School Teacher Salary FAQ
How much does a Elementary School Teacher make in 2026?
The median salary for a Elementary School Teacher in the United States is $63,970 per year, the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021); the mean is $72,650. Salario's calibrated tiers put entry-level positions around $41,700, senior professionals around $83,400, and top earners at $108,400 or more annually.
What education is needed to become a Elementary School Teacher?
A Elementary School Teacher typically requires a Bachelor's degree with 2-5 years of experience. Key skills include Communication, Problem solving, Teamwork. Relevant certifications such as can boost earning potential and career advancement.
What is the job outlook for Elementary School Teachers?
The job market for Elementary School Teachers is projected to grow by 5% over the next decade. There are currently approximately 1.4M Elementary School Teacher positions in the US. Salary growth over the past 5 years has been approximately 15%, reflecting moderate demand for this role.
Which states pay Elementary School Teachers the most?
The highest-paying states for Elementary School Teachers include California, Texas, New York. In California, the median salary is approximately $75,000. However, cost of living varies significantly, so adjusted purchasing power should be considered when comparing salaries across states.
How can I increase my Elementary School Teacher salary?
To increase your Elementary School Teacher salary, focus on gaining expertise in high-demand skills like Communication and Problem solving. Pursue certifications such as industry-specific credentials. Consider relocating to higher-paying markets like New York. With 2-5 years of experience, you can progress from $41,700 to $83,400 or more.
Methodology & Data Sources: Elementary School Teacher Salary
How we calculate Elementary School Teacher salary data: The national median is the official BLS OEWS May 2025 annual median wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021), retrieved from the BLS Public Data API. The entry, senior and top tiers are a Salario model: the shape of the distribution is Salario's, rescaled so that its median equals the BLS median. State and most city figures are Salario estimates that apply cost-of-labor multipliers to that median.
- National median salary: $63,970, BLS OEWS May 2025 annual median for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education; BLS mean $72,650.
- Entry-level ($41,700) and senior-level ($83,400) are Salario tiers calibrated to the BLS median; they are not BLS percentiles. BLS publishes P10/P25/P75/P90 wages for this occupation in its OEWS tables.
- Job outlook: +5% projected growth is Salario's outlook figure; compare with the BLS Employment Projections program. BLS OEWS May 2025 counts 1,388,390 Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education jobs nationwide.
- 5-year salary growth: 15% is a Salario estimate of past 5-year wage growth for the sector, informed by the BLS Employment Cost Index.
- Education requirement: Bachelor's degree, per BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for this occupation.
- State and city estimates apply Salario cost-of-labor multipliers to the national median of $63,970; city rows marked "BLS metro" are real OEWS metropolitan-area medians instead.
Authoritative US data sources for Elementary School Teacher compensation:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national and metro-area salary data
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Elementary School Teacher job projections, education, and career outlook
- BLS Employment Projections, 10-year occupation growth and decline data
- BLS Employment Cost Index, quarterly compensation trend data for
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation for cost-of-living wage adjustments
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
Disclaimer: Elementary School Teacher salary figures are statistical estimates for general guidance. Actual compensation depends on employer, location, negotiation, specific skills (Communication, Problem solving, Teamwork), certifications, and industry conditions. Always verify with multiple sources including current job listings, recruiter data, and direct employer offers before making career decisions.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated May 17, 2026 · BLS figures: OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026), retrieved from the BLS API on September 17, 2026
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