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The differences between elementary school teachers and middle school teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a middle school teacher has an average salary of $53,363, which is higher than the $52,161 average annual salary of an elementary school teacher.
The top three skills for an elementary school teacher include classroom management, math and professional development. The most important skills for a middle school teacher are classroom management, professional development, and math.
| Elementary School Teacher | Middle School Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $52,161 | $53,363 |
| Hourly rate | $25.08 | $25.66 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 84,607 | 82,230 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
Elementary school teachers are trained to provide education to children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The teachers are responsible for children's emotional and educational growth in the classroom. They manage the resources and materials to be used for their education. It is part of their duties to evaluate the students' performance, social development, physical health, and behavior. Also, they adapt to teaching methods and instructions to meet the interests and needs of the children.
A middle school teacher is responsible for teaching students in grades six to eight, following a curriculum that fits on their grade levels to prepare them for the next advancement. Middle school teachers strategize effective lesson plans, engaging activities, and assessments to test the students' knowledge and understanding of the learning materials. They also observe the personal and developmental behaviors of the students by conducting group activities and performance. A middle school teacher identifies the students' strengths and weaknesses, adjusting the learning approach as needed to cater to each student's needs and difficulties.
Elementary school teachers and middle school teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Elementary School Teacher | Middle School Teacher | |
| Average salary | $52,161 | $53,363 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $72,000 | Between $39,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Washington |
| Best paying company | German International School New York | Baltimore City Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between an elementary school teacher and a middle school teacher in terms of educational background:
| Elementary School Teacher | Middle School Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between elementary school teachers' and middle school teachers' demographics:
| Elementary School Teacher | Middle School Teacher | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5% | Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |