How To Become An Elementary Art Teacher: What It Is and Career Path

What is an elementary art teacher and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Greg Hull

Elementary art teachers work in primary schools and guide children through their first explorations of artistic expression. They show them how to draw, color, paint and begin introducing them to art history. They prepare lessons and take care of art supplies to use, and instruct art techniques that contribute to children's creativity.

You will be there to supervise classes, ensuring that the fun does not turn into chaos and things go down in an orderly manner. Your job will be to encourage creative self-expression in children, giving them a taste of the importance of the transformational power of art. You will prepare the classroom for the activities and clean up after the class is over on a practical level. You will assign projects, grade the students' work, and contact parents at PTA meetings.

You will need a degree in arts and a certificate as a teacher to take on this role. Experience as an art teacher will also be important, which will be a prerequisite to getting your teaching license. Patience with children and excellent communication skills will be a must, as well as an available and supportive attitude towards your students.

What general advice would you give to an elementary art teacher?

Greg Hull

Interim Dean, Valerie Eickmeier Professor in Sculpture, Professor, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis - Herron School of Art and Design

I would tell them to remember that, while they may not find sculptor, poet, dancer, etc. in job postings, the skills and abilities that they have all learned in terms of idea generation, problem-solving, and creative thinking are highly sought after and can be applied to almost any position in every conceivable field. Innovation and creativity are the cornerstones of education in Design and the Visual and Performing Arts. The ability to see and solve problems, from multiple perspectives, and provide an array of viable solutions is unique and powerful. With self-motivation and perseverance, they can, and will, be successful.

ScoreElementary Art TeacherUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,926

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.6

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.52%

Asian 3.66%

Black or African American 9.76%

Hispanic or Latino 12.57%

Unknown 3.91%

White 69.59%

Gender

female 78.96%

male 21.04%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.3

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an elementary art teacher

Explore elementary art teacher education requirements

Most common elementary art teacher degrees

Bachelor's

75.3 %

Master's

16.6 %

Associate

3.7 %

Start to develop specific elementary art teacher skills

Skills	Percentages
Professional Development	25.49%
Classroom Management	8.05%
Kindergarten	4.57%
Instructional Materials	4.31%
Math	4.02%

Research elementary art teacher duties and responsibilities

Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
Work with many students that have IEP (individual education plans) and modify lessons to accommodate their needs.
Plane, develop, prepare, and implement an effective, collaborative, technology and student base language arts differentiate curriculum.
Familiarize students with the history of the costumes.

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