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What is a fifth grade teacher and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Diana Jones

Fifth grade teachers teach students in the last year of elementary school. They help the students in their transition to middle school by motivating them to develop skills and knowledge. They earn an average salary of $45,000 annually or $22 per hour.

Fifth grade teachers are generally concerned about their students and they do everything in their power to instill knowledge and prepare the students for life after elementary school. They establish lesson plans that take the student's individual abilities into account and they pay special attention to students who may be lacking in one area. They are compassionate and patient as they need those attributes to communicate effectively with the students.

Fifth grade teachers typically hold a master's or bachelor's degree in elementary education, education, or a related field. Some employers prefer to hire candidates with some years of experience as a teacher and with the ability to get along well with students.

What general advice would you give to a fifth grade teacher?

Dr. Diana JonesDr. Diana Jones LinkedIn profile

Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University

General advice: I would encourage graduates to find a mentor who can guide them in their careers, stay on top of the latest technology, not be too hard on themselves, be flexible, be team players, be present, and care about their students.
ScoreFifth Grade TeacherUS Average
Salary
3.6

Avg. Salary $45,802

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 9.78%

Hispanic or Latino 12.60%

Unknown 3.91%

White 69.53%

Gender

female 79.98%

male 20.02%

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

Fifth grade teacher career paths

Key steps to become a fifth grade teacher

  1. Explore fifth grade teacher education requirements

    Most common fifth grade teacher degrees

    Bachelor's

    70.8 %

    Master's

    22.7 %

    Associate

    4.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific fifth grade teacher skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Classroom Management31.79%
    Math13.79%
    Classroom Environment6.91%
    Language Arts5.54%
    Learning Process4.50%
  3. Research fifth grade teacher duties and responsibilities

    • Utilize PLC time to meet the needs of struggling and achieving students
    • Work with a large population of ESL and at risk students.
    • Participate in response to instruction (RTI) meetings to define strategies to assist specific students in grasping key concepts.
    • Adapt teaching methods and materials to meet students' varying needs and interests, create IEP's for entire classroom population.
  4. Prepare your fifth grade teacher resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your fifth grade teacher resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a fifth grade teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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    Fifth Grade Teacher Resume
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    Fifth Grade Teacher Resume
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    Fifth Grade Teacher Resume
    Fifth Grade Teacher Resume
  5. Apply for fifth grade teacher jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a fifth grade teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first fifth grade teacher job

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Average fifth grade teacher salary

The average fifth grade teacher salary in the United States is $45,802 per year or $22 per hour. Fifth grade teacher salaries range between $31,000 and $65,000 per year.

Average fifth grade teacher salary
$45,802 Yearly
$22.02 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do fifth grade teachers rate their job?

-/5

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Fifth grade teacher reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

The kids light up my days.

Cons

The demand and low pay. Teachers have families, too.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2022
Pros

You got to work with learners who will love you unconditionally. It gives a great satisfaction to be able to help them. I love learners with Special Needs and I am a Mom of one.

Cons

I can't say, maybe because there is none.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days

Cons

Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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