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1st grade teacher salary
Average 1st grade teacher salary
$46,448
Average 1st Grade Teacher Salary
The average salary for a 1st Grade Teacher in the U.S. stands at approximately $46,448 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors such as location, years of experience, and educational qualifications.
Where Can 1st Grade Teachers Earn More?
Teachers in states like California and New York often see higher salaries due to increased living costs and demand for qualified educators. For example, California offers an average salary of around $60,000, reflecting both the cost of living and investment in education.
Salary Insights Over Time
Over the past decade, salaries for 1st Grade Teachers have shown a steady increase, indicating a growing recognition of the importance of early childhood education. As schools continue to prioritize foundational learning, the demand for qualified teachers is expected to remain strong, creating more opportunities for aspiring educators.
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Where can a 1st Grade Teacher earn more?
1st grade teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average 1st grade teacher salary by state
The highest-paying states for 1st grade teachers are New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The lowest average 1st grade teacher salary states are Idaho, Maine, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for 1st grade teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $60,752 | $29.21 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $60,929 | $29.29 |
| 3 | New York | $64,640 | $31.08 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $63,477 | $30.52 |
| 5 | Michigan | $53,609 | $25.77 |
| 6 | Maryland | $56,831 | $27.32 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $61,099 | $29.37 |
| 8 | Illinois | $51,857 | $24.93 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $55,198 | $26.54 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $50,273 | $24.17 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $48,615 | $23.37 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $52,023 | $25.01 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $45,474 | $21.86 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $45,225 | $21.74 |
| 15 | California | $58,290 | $28.02 |
| 16 | Montana | $43,835 | $21.07 |
| 17 | Oregon | $51,053 | $24.54 |
| 18 | Ohio | $47,871 | $23.01 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $43,063 | $20.70 |
| 20 | Alaska | $53,623 | $25.78 |
| 21 | Delaware | $45,017 | $21.64 |
| 22 | Vermont | $43,588 | $20.96 |
| 23 | Washington | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| 24 | Iowa | $42,853 | $20.60 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $52,725 | $25.35 |
| 26 | Virginia | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| 28 | Texas | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| 29 | Nevada | $38,554 | $18.54 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $41,923 | $20.16 |
| 31 | Florida | $41,116 | $19.77 |
| 32 | Utah | $42,278 | $20.33 |
| 33 | Colorado | $40,156 | $19.31 |
| 34 | Arizona | $38,331 | $18.43 |
| 35 | Indiana | $39,528 | $19.00 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $41,214 | $19.81 |
| 37 | Alabama | $40,980 | $19.70 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $39,977 | $19.22 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $38,910 | $18.71 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $39,742 | $19.11 |
| 41 | Kansas | $36,732 | $17.66 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $37,189 | $17.88 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $39,061 | $18.78 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $36,769 | $17.68 |
| 45 | Idaho | $36,075 | $17.34 |
| 46 | Georgia | $36,866 | $17.72 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $31,992 | $15.38 |
| 48 | Maine | $35,599 | $17.11 |
| 49 | Missouri | $35,028 | $16.84 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $34,846 | $16.75 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $32,699 | $15.72 |
Highest paying cities for 1st grade teachers
The highest-paying cities for 1st grade teachers are New York, NY, San Pablo, CA, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $64,931 | $31.22 |
| 2 | San Pablo, CA | $62,757 | $30.17 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $52,137 | $25.07 |
| 4 | Salem, OR | $51,181 | $24.61 |
| 5 | Prior Lake, MN | $50,275 | $24.17 |
| 6 | Springfield, OH | $47,060 | $22.63 |
| 7 | Nashua, NH | $45,898 | $22.07 |
| 8 | Santa Fe, NM | $45,329 | $21.79 |
| 9 | El Paso, TX | $42,490 | $20.43 |
| 10 | Provo, UT | $42,227 | $20.30 |
| 11 | East Chicago, IN | $40,486 | $19.46 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $40,202 | $19.33 |
| 13 | Baton Rouge, LA | $39,957 | $19.21 |
| 14 | Sioux Falls, SD | $39,318 | $18.90 |
| 15 | Kingman, AZ | $39,207 | $18.85 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $38,151 | $18.34 |
| 17 | Yukon, OK | $32,031 | $15.40 |
1st grade teacher salary details
A 1st grade teacher's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $65,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a 1st grade teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $46,448 | $3,871 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying 1st grade teacher jobs
The highest paying types of 1st grade teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and reading teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Studies Teacher | $49,725 | $4,144 | $23.91 | 94,087 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $52,161 | $4,347 | $25.08 | 84,607 |
| Science Teacher | $59,788 | $4,982 | $28.74 | 71,133 |
| ESL Teacher | $52,701 | $4,392 | $25.34 | 63,897 |
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Math Teacher | $51,088 | $4,257 | $24.56 | 59,347 |
Top companies hiring 1st grade teachers now:
Which companies pay 1st grade teachers the most?
1st grade teacher salaries at Jefferson Elementary School District and Madera High School are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average 1st grade teacher salary at companies like Union County Public Schools and Houston ISD Foundation are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson Elementary School District | $59,626 | $28.67 |
| 2 | Madera High School | $56,733 | $27.28 |
| 3 | Union County Public Schools | $56,161 | $27.00 |
| 4 | Houston ISD Foundation | $53,963 | $25.94 |
| 5 | KIPP Northern California Public Schools | $53,058 | $25.51 |
| 6 | Camino Nuevo Charter Academy | $52,685 | $25.33 |
| 7 | Distinctive Schools | $52,507 | $25.24 |
| 8 | American Montessori Society | $51,238 | $24.63 |
| 9 | Bright Star Schools | $50,527 | $24.29 |
| 10 | Durham Public Schools | $50,523 | $24.29 |
| 11 | Charter Schools USA | $50,412 | $24.24 |
| 12 | Bedford Public Schools | $50,316 | $24.19 |
| 13 | Leman Academy of Excellence, Inc. | $50,094 | $24.08 |
| 14 | KIPP Austin Public Schools | $49,962 | $24.02 |
| 15 | Tyler Isd | $49,897 | $23.99 |
| 16 | Lighthouse Community Public Schools | $49,501 | $23.80 |
| 17 | Berkeley High School | $49,289 | $23.70 |
| 18 | BRIDGES Charter School | $49,229 | $23.67 |
| 19 | Hayward Unified School District | $48,992 | $23.55 |
| 20 | Jefferson Parish Public Schools | $48,824 | $23.47 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
1st grade teacher salary trends
The average 1st grade teacher salary has risen by $6,174 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average 1st grade teacher earned $40,274 annually, but today, they earn $46,448 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for 1st grade teachers over the last decade.
Compare 1st grade teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average 1st grade teacher salary over time
Compare 1st grade teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
1st grade teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $46,400 | $22.33 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $45,500 | $21.87 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $44,400 | $21.34 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $43,600 | $20.95 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $42,500 | $20.45 | +1.6% |
Recently added 1st grade teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth Public Schools, ISD 709 | Grade 1 Teacher FTE | Duluth, MN | 06/29/2025 | $44,833 |
| Idea Public Schools | 1St. Grade ELA Co-Teacher-Idea Frontier Academy) | Brownsville, TX | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| Oklahoma State School Boards Association | 1St. Grade Teacher | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/27/2025 | $44,000 |
| Morrow County School District | Temporary 1St. Grade Teacher-SAM Boardman Elementary School | Boardman, OR | 06/27/2025 | $56,977 |
| Gresham Barlow School District | Teacher-Elementary, Grades | Ione, OR | 06/27/2025 | $50,334 |
| Idea Public Schools | 1St. Grade Teacher-Idea Valley View Academy) | Cincinnati, OH | 06/27/2025 | $51,500 |
| Arizona Department of Education | Teacher 1St. Grade | Phoenix, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $52,545 |
| Upper Moreland Township School District | 1St. Grade LTS Elementary Teacher | Kane, PA | 06/26/2025 | $57,050 |
| Illinois Association of School | 1St. Grade Teacher at Sparta Lincoln School | Sparta, IL | 06/26/2025 | $43,000 |
| Minneapolis Public School District | Teacher, Elementary)-Nellie Stone, 1St. Grade | Minneapolis, MN | 06/26/2025 | $53,629 |
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