Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Elementary school teacher salary
Average elementary school teacher salary
$52,161
Understanding Elementary School Teacher Salaries
The average elementary school teacher salary in the United States is $52,161 per year, or approximately $25 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific school district.
Salary by State
Teachers in certain states earn significantly more than their counterparts elsewhere. For instance, states like California and New York typically offer higher salaries, reflecting the cost of living and funding for education. Understanding regional salary differences can assist teachers in making informed career decisions.
Experience Matters
Moreover, experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. New teachers may start at a lower salary, but as they gain experience and potentially pursue advanced degrees or certifications, their earning potential increases. Therefore, it is essential for teachers to continuously seek professional development opportunities.
Conclusion
Overall, the path to becoming a well-compensated elementary school teacher involves strategic planning regarding location, experience, and ongoing education. Explore job openings to find the best opportunities that align with your career goals.
Let Zippi find your next elementary school teacher job
Let Zippi find your next elementary school teacher job
Where can an Elementary School Teacher earn more?
Elementary school teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average elementary school teacher salary by state
The highest-paying states for elementary school teachers are Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York. The lowest average elementary school teacher salary states are Missouri, South Dakota, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for elementary school teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $78,444 | $37.71 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $69,182 | $33.26 |
| 3 | New York | $75,352 | $36.23 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $66,655 | $32.05 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $75,702 | $36.40 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $64,223 | $30.88 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $70,163 | $33.73 |
| 8 | Oregon | $63,016 | $30.30 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $60,758 | $29.21 |
| 10 | Washington | $69,157 | $33.25 |
| 11 | Michigan | $54,338 | $26.12 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $53,028 | $25.49 |
| 13 | Alaska | $68,852 | $33.10 |
| 14 | Delaware | $54,202 | $26.06 |
| 15 | Virginia | $59,021 | $28.38 |
| 16 | Illinois | $49,659 | $23.87 |
| 17 | Nevada | $46,984 | $22.59 |
| 18 | Vermont | $54,676 | $26.29 |
| 19 | California | $60,525 | $29.10 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $50,641 | $24.35 |
| 21 | Georgia | $49,921 | $24.00 |
| 22 | Ohio | $50,483 | $24.27 |
| 23 | Montana | $44,226 | $21.26 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $44,961 | $21.62 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $44,125 | $21.21 |
| 26 | Texas | $46,249 | $22.24 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $45,927 | $22.08 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $45,901 | $22.07 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $54,436 | $26.17 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $45,109 | $21.69 |
| 31 | Florida | $43,762 | $21.04 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $44,964 | $21.62 |
| 33 | Iowa | $42,894 | $20.62 |
| 34 | Maine | $45,334 | $21.80 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $41,329 | $19.87 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $43,435 | $20.88 |
| 37 | Arizona | $38,982 | $18.74 |
| 38 | Colorado | $41,190 | $19.80 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $40,959 | $19.69 |
| 40 | Kansas | $38,897 | $18.70 |
| 41 | Alabama | $43,565 | $20.94 |
| 42 | Idaho | $41,138 | $19.78 |
| 43 | Missouri | $38,084 | $18.31 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $39,315 | $18.90 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $35,788 | $17.21 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $38,171 | $18.35 |
| 47 | Utah | $40,204 | $19.33 |
| 48 | Indiana | $36,074 | $17.34 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $37,463 | $18.01 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $35,863 | $17.24 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $35,289 | $16.97 |
Highest paying cities for elementary school teachers
The highest-paying cities for elementary school teachers are Baltimore, MD, New York, NY, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $78,994 | $37.98 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $75,701 | $36.39 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $70,184 | $33.74 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $66,674 | $32.05 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $66,567 | $32.00 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $62,904 | $30.24 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $61,422 | $29.53 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $50,038 | $24.06 |
| 9 | Savannah, GA | $50,011 | $24.04 |
| 10 | Odessa, TX | $46,676 | $22.44 |
| 11 | Portland, ME | $46,314 | $22.27 |
| 12 | Minnetonka, MN | $44,845 | $21.56 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $44,501 | $21.39 |
| 14 | Santa Fe, NM | $43,787 | $21.05 |
| 15 | Wilson, NC | $42,995 | $20.67 |
| 16 | Columbia, SC | $41,453 | $19.93 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $41,168 | $19.79 |
| 18 | New Orleans, LA | $39,348 | $18.92 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,039 | $18.77 |
| 20 | Edmond, OK | $35,765 | $17.19 |
Elementary school teacher salary details
An elementary school teacher's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $72,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an elementary school teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| Average | $52,161 | $4,347 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
Highest paying elementary school teacher jobs
The highest paying types of elementary school teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and reading teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th Grade Teacher | $46,300 | $3,858 | $22.26 | 57,358 |
| 2nd Grade Teacher | $46,850 | $3,904 | $22.52 | 59,077 |
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Pre-K Teacher | $40,301 | $3,358 | $19.38 | 60,464 |
| Resource Teacher | $43,487 | $3,624 | $20.91 | 73,796 |
| Reading Teacher | $55,452 | $4,621 | $26.66 | 68,234 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for elementary school teachers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Patricia Rogan Ph.D.
Professor, Special Education/Urban Teacher Education, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Which companies pay elementary school teachers the most?
Elementary school teacher salaries at German International School New York and Trinity Episcopal School are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average elementary school teacher salary at companies like Forest Grove SD and Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German International School New York | $86,862 | $41.76 |
| 2 | Trinity Episcopal School | $78,248 | $37.62 |
| 3 | Forest Grove SD | $75,822 | $36.45 |
| 4 | Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles | $74,969 | $36.04 |
| 5 | Boston Public Schools | $72,876 | $35.04 |
| 6 | Prince George's County Memorial Library System | $72,433 | $34.82 |
| 7 | Springfield City Library | $72,175 | $34.70 |
| 8 | Berkeley Hall School | $72,001 | $34.62 |
| 9 | Friends Select School | $71,810 | $34.52 |
| 10 | Redondo Beach Unified School District | $70,786 | $34.03 |
| 11 | Baltimore City Public Schools | $69,987 | $33.65 |
| 12 | Lycée Français de San Francisco | $69,237 | $33.29 |
| 13 | DC International School | $68,324 | $32.85 |
| 14 | West Contra Costa Unified School District | $67,770 | $32.58 |
| 15 | Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School | $67,533 | $32.47 |
| 16 | COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT | $67,510 | $32.46 |
| 17 | French-American School of New York | $67,226 | $32.32 |
| 18 | Brooklyn Waldorf School | $66,904 | $32.17 |
| 19 | Rochambeau | $66,870 | $32.15 |
| 20 | Success Preparatory Academy | $66,636 | $32.04 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Elementary school teacher salary trends
The average elementary school teacher salary has risen by $6,933 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average elementary school teacher earned $45,228 annually, but today, they earn $52,161 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for elementary school teachers over the last decade.
Compare elementary school teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average elementary school teacher salary over time
Compare elementary school teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Elementary school teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,200 | $25.08 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $51,100 | $24.55 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $49,800 | $23.96 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $48,900 | $23.52 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $47,800 | $22.96 | +1.6% |
Recently added elementary school teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strideinc | Elementary School Music Teacher | Lewisville, TX | 06/30/2025 | $49,000 |
| Montgomery County Public Schools | Fy26: Teacher, ELD, Flower Hill Elementary School FTE | Gaithersburg, MD | 06/29/2025 | $62,558 |
| Idea Public Schools | 3Rd Grade ELA Teacher-Idea Health Professions Academy) | Austin, TX | 06/29/2025 | $58,500 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Preschool or Elementary School Teacher/Educator-Remote | WFH | Tampa, FL | 06/29/2025 | $70,000 |
| Zetacharterschools | Elementary School Science Teacher (1ST-5Th Grade) | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $62,000 |
| Duluth Public Schools | CTE Grade Futures Teacher FTE | Nore, MN | 06/28/2025 | $44,833 |
| Fair Lawn Public Schools | Teacher of Elementary School (Anticipated) | Fair Lawn, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $59,858 |
| Toppenish School District | SY-Teacher 3Rd Grade | Toppenish, WA | 06/28/2025 | $58,626 |
| College Achieve Central Charter School | Elementary School Teacher | Plainfield, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| Learn and Explore Academy | Elementary School Stem Teacher | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $70,000 |
Elementary school teacher salary FAQs
Search for elementary school teacher jobs