Best cities for an elementary school teacher
The best cities for elementary school teachers are Hempstead, NY, Baltimore, MD, and Anchorage, AK, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for elementary school teachers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for elementary school teachers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an elementary school teacher or considering a move, this list of the best cities for elementary school teachers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for elementary school teachers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an elementary school teacher. While the absolute best city for elementary school teachers is Hempstead, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for elementary school teachers in 2024.
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10 best cities for elementary school teachers in 2026
1. Hempstead, NY
Total elementary school teacher jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $75,839 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 79.01 2. Baltimore, MD
Total elementary school teacher jobs: 142 Average annual salary: $78,994 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 20.20 3. Anchorage, AK
Total elementary school teacher jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $68,710 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 16.41 4. Newark, NJ
Total elementary school teacher jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $66,674 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 8.65 5. Oakland, CA
Total elementary school teacher jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $66,366 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 25.17 6. Washington, DC
Total elementary school teacher jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $70,184 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location quotient: 11.76 7. Stockton, CA
Total elementary school teacher jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $65,536 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 8.62 8. Buffalo, NY
Total elementary school teacher jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $71,297 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 5.13 9. Laredo, TX
Total elementary school teacher jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $46,854 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 38.40 10. Portland, OR
Total elementary school teacher jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $62,904 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 4.63
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Best cities for elementary school teachers
- Hempstead, NY
- Baltimore, MD
- Anchorage, AK
- Newark, NJ
- Oakland, CA
- Washington, DC
- Stockton, CA
- Buffalo, NY
- Laredo, TX
- Portland, OR
- (6 elementary school teacher jobs)
- (142 elementary school teacher jobs)
- (19 elementary school teacher jobs)
- (23 elementary school teacher jobs)
- (55 elementary school teacher jobs)
- (155 elementary school teacher jobs)
- (7 elementary school teacher jobs)
- (12 elementary school teacher jobs)
- (13 elementary school teacher jobs)
- (36 elementary school teacher jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an elementary school teacher
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hempstead, NY | $75,839 | $50,000 | 759,757 | 6 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $78,994 | $52,000 | 614,664 | 142 |
| 3 | Anchorage, AK | $68,710 | $55,000 | 298,192 | 19 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $66,674 | $44,000 | 281,764 | 23 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $66,366 | $45,000 | 420,005 | 55 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $70,184 | $46,000 | 681,170 | 155 |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $65,536 | $44,000 | 307,072 | 7 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $71,297 | $47,000 | 256,902 | 12 |
| 9 | Laredo, TX | $46,854 | $37,000 | 257,156 | 13 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $62,904 | $43,000 | 639,863 | 36 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $61,422 | $40,000 | 1,567,872 | 37 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $75,701 | $50,000 | 8,537,673 | 189 |
| 13 | Lexington, KY | $45,488 | $31,000 | 318,449 | 10 |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $46,200 | $35,000 | 2,303,482 | 46 |
| 15 | Garland, TX | $45,854 | $34,000 | 234,943 | 124 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $65,796 | $44,000 | 495,234 | 19 |
| 17 | Jersey City, NJ | $66,725 | $44,000 | 264,152 | 16 |
| 18 | Lincoln, NE | $50,546 | $36,000 | 280,364 | 12 |
| 19 | San Francisco, CA | $66,567 | $45,000 | 870,887 | 75 |
| 20 | Santa Ana, CA | $57,893 | $41,000 | 334,217 | 7 |
| 21 | San Jose, CA | $65,820 | $44,000 | 1,025,350 | 48 |
| 22 | Fort Worth, TX | $45,905 | $34,000 | 854,113 | 50 |
| 23 | Anaheim, CA | $58,017 | $41,000 | 351,043 | 6 |
| 24 | Toledo, OH | $50,960 | $34,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 25 | Dallas, TX | $45,869 | $34,000 | 1,317,929 | 217 |
| 26 | Winston-Salem, NC | $40,826 | $28,000 | 242,203 | 49 |
| 27 | Detroit, MI | $54,912 | $36,000 | 672,795 | 10 |
| 28 | Los Angeles, CA | $58,579 | $41,000 | 3,976,322 | 83 |
| 29 | Corpus Christi, TX | $46,681 | $37,000 | 325,733 | 3 |
| 30 | Boston, MA | $75,592 | $51,000 | 673,184 | 19 |
| 31 | Virginia Beach, VA | $59,337 | $39,000 | 452,602 | 4 |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | $53,613 | $35,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 33 | Greensboro, NC | $41,264 | $28,000 | 287,027 | 19 |
| 34 | Milwaukee, WI | $46,099 | $31,000 | 595,047 | 15 |
| 35 | Raleigh, NC | $42,172 | $28,000 | 458,880 | 47 |
| 36 | Islip, NY | $75,883 | $50,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 37 | Austin, TX | $46,321 | $35,000 | 947,890 | 77 |
| 38 | Brookhaven, NY | $75,760 | $50,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 39 | Oyster Bay, NY | $75,705 | $50,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 40 | Chicago, IL | $50,038 | $34,000 | 2,704,958 | 59 |
| 41 | Durham, NC | $42,138 | $28,000 | 263,016 | 24 |
| 42 | Fresno, CA | $63,467 | $43,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 43 | Glendale, AZ | $39,067 | $28,000 | 245,895 | 12 |
| 44 | Madison, WI | $45,132 | $31,000 | 252,551 | 15 |
| 45 | Seattle, WA | $70,090 | $48,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 46 | Columbus, OH | $49,387 | $33,000 | 860,090 | 15 |
| 47 | Albuquerque, NM | $44,110 | $32,000 | 559,277 | 17 |
| 48 | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,391 | $38,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $49,916 | $36,000 | 472,522 | 36 |
| 50 | New Orleans, LA | $39,348 | $30,000 | 391,495 | 38 |
Highest paying cities for elementary school teachers
| Rank | City | Avg. elementary school teacher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $78,994 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $75,701 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $70,184 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $66,674 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $66,567 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $62,904 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $61,422 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $50,038 |
| 9 | Savannah, GA | $50,011 |
| 10 | Odessa, TX | $46,676 |
| 11 | Portland, ME | $46,314 |
| 12 | Minnetonka, MN | $44,845 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $44,501 |
| 14 | Santa Fe, NM | $43,787 |
| 15 | Wilson, NC | $42,995 |
| 16 | Columbia, SC | $41,453 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $41,168 |
| 18 | New Orleans, LA | $39,348 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,039 |
| 20 | Edmond, OK | $35,765 |
Elementary school teacher best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025