The average salary for an elementary school teacher in the United States is around $54,982 per year.
Avg Salary
Elementary school teachers earn an average yearly salary of $54,982.
Wages typically start from $35,954 and go up to $84,079.
12% below national average Updated in 2019
Elementary school teacher earnings by seniority
Top-level elementary school teacher earnings begin at:
$40.42 per hour
$84,079 per year
Senior-level elementary school teacher earnings begin at:
$33.06 per hour
$68,755 per year
Mid-level elementary school teacher earnings begin at:
$26.43 per hour
$54,982 per year
Junior-level elementary school teacher earnings begin at:
$21.14 per hour
$43,967 per year
Starting level elementary school teacher earnings begin at:
$17.29 per hour
$35,954 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Elementary school teacher salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $80,830 |
| New York | $79,760 |
| Massachusetts | $78,770 |
| District of Columbia | $77,220 |
| Connecticut | $75,450 |
| Rhode Island | $74,400 |
| Alaska | $72,040 |
| Maryland | $71,060 |
| New Jersey | $67,160 |
| Oregon | $66,220 |
| Washington | $65,780 |
| Michigan | $63,480 |
| Virginia | $63,040 |
| Delaware | $62,040 |
| Ohio | $61,950 |
| Minnesota | $61,830 |
| Hawaii | $59,739 |
| Vermont | $59,100 |
| Wyoming | $58,550 |
| New Hampshire | $58,240 |
| Utah | $57,570 |
| Nevada | $56,830 |
| Nebraska | $56,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,696 |
| Texas | $56,380 |
| Georgia | $56,250 |
| Wisconsin | $55,860 |
| New Mexico | $52,950 |
| Maine | $52,680 |
| North Dakota | $52,310 |
| Tennessee | $51,080 |
| Iowa | $50,387 |
| Colorado | $50,330 |
| Illinois | $50,208 |
| Guam | $50,150 |
| Montana | $49,920 |
| South Carolina | $49,620 |
| Florida | $48,630 |
| Idaho | $48,154 |
| Louisiana | $48,040 |
| Indiana | $46,422 |
| Missouri | $45,970 |
| North Carolina | $45,860 |
| Kansas | $45,783 |
| Arkansas | $45,115 |
| West Virginia | $44,620 |
| Mississippi | $43,000 |
| South Dakota | $42,670 |
| Kentucky | $41,286 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $41,220 |
| Alabama | $40,259 |
| Oklahoma | $38,620 |
| Arizona | $38,150 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,760 |
How much does an Elementary School Teacher earn?
While elementary school teachers’ wages should perhaps be higher than they are, many teachers are making a comfortable salary, depending on where they live. Urban areas tend to offer higher elementary school salaries, but the cost of living is also higher. While you may earn less in a rural area, you’ll probably spend less for rent, food, gas, and other expenses. The highest paid in the elementary school teacher profession work in the metropolitan areas of Fairbanks, Alaska, Poughkeepsie, New York, and New York City. The Kingston, New York area also pays well, as does the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts.
How do elementary school teacher salaries compare to similar careers?
Elementary school teachers earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than physical education teachers but more than teachers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Physical education teacher salary | $63K |
| Music teacher salary | $59K |
| High school teacher salary | $59K |
| Kindergarten teacher salary | $57K |
| School counselor salary | $55K |
| Elementary school teacher salary | $55K |
| Health educator salary | $53K |
| Clergy salary | $51K |
| Childcare program administrator salary | $47K |
| Teacher salary | $42K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)