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Grade school teacher salary
Average grade school teacher salary
$50,289
Understanding Grade School Teacher Salaries
As of October 2025, grade school teachers in the United States earn an average salary of $50,289 annually. This figure reflects the combined impact of various factors including state, years of experience, and specific educational fields. For instance, teachers in states like California and New York tend to earn higher salaries due to increased living costs and demand for educators.
Moreover, teachers with advanced degrees or specialized certifications may command higher salaries. The salary range can vary from $40,000 to over $70,000, depending on these factors. Additionally, positions in urban school districts often provide more financial incentives compared to rural areas.
It’s crucial for prospective teachers to consider not just salary but also benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and job security, which can enhance overall compensation. For those interested in pursuing a career as a grade school teacher, understanding the salary landscape is essential for making informed career decisions.
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Where can a Grade School Teacher earn more?
Grade school teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average grade school teacher salary by state
The highest-paying states for grade school teachers are Maryland, New York, and California. The lowest average grade school teacher salary states are South Dakota, Vermont, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for grade school teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $61,171 | $29.41 |
| 2 | New York | $58,342 | $28.05 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| 5 | Illinois | $48,283 | $23.21 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $50,619 | $24.34 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $51,823 | $24.91 |
| 8 | Michigan | $47,181 | $22.68 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $49,574 | $23.83 |
| 10 | Delaware | $48,523 | $23.33 |
| 11 | Florida | $50,470 | $24.26 |
| 12 | Ohio | $49,314 | $23.71 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $47,458 | $22.82 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $47,876 | $23.02 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $47,309 | $22.74 |
| 16 | California | $55,468 | $26.67 |
| 17 | Oregon | $48,651 | $23.39 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $47,638 | $22.90 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $48,042 | $23.10 |
| 20 | Utah | $49,196 | $23.65 |
| 21 | Alaska | $50,644 | $24.35 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $45,172 | $21.72 |
| 23 | Washington | $49,988 | $24.03 |
| 24 | Virginia | $48,804 | $23.46 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $45,467 | $21.86 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| 27 | Montana | $43,081 | $20.71 |
| 28 | Iowa | $44,174 | $21.24 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $44,547 | $21.42 |
| 30 | Kansas | $41,936 | $20.16 |
| 31 | Missouri | $43,207 | $20.77 |
| 32 | Alabama | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| 33 | Georgia | $44,859 | $21.57 |
| 34 | Texas | $43,043 | $20.69 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $40,291 | $19.37 |
| 36 | Nevada | $39,795 | $19.13 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $43,024 | $20.68 |
| 38 | Colorado | $41,199 | $19.81 |
| 39 | Indiana | $40,343 | $19.40 |
| 40 | Arizona | $39,653 | $19.06 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $48,211 | $23.18 |
| 42 | Idaho | $39,872 | $19.17 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $41,399 | $19.90 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $40,280 | $19.37 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $41,564 | $19.98 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $37,049 | $17.81 |
| 47 | Vermont | $39,195 | $18.84 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $39,464 | $18.97 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $38,992 | $18.75 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $37,774 | $18.16 |
| 51 | Maine | $31,774 | $15.28 |
Highest paying cities for grade school teachers
The highest-paying cities for grade school teachers are Olney, MD, San Francisco, CA, and New Haven, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olney, MD | $61,295 | $29.47 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $58,140 | $27.95 |
| 3 | New Haven, CT | $50,783 | $24.41 |
| 4 | Winter Garden, FL | $50,306 | $24.19 |
| 5 | Marysville, WA | $49,771 | $23.93 |
| 6 | Ogden, UT | $49,012 | $23.56 |
| 7 | Salem, OR | $48,811 | $23.47 |
| 8 | Union City, NJ | $48,786 | $23.45 |
| 9 | Knoxville, TN | $46,275 | $22.25 |
| 10 | Beloit, WI | $46,071 | $22.15 |
| 11 | Santa Fe, NM | $44,946 | $21.61 |
| 12 | Pueblo, CO | $41,379 | $19.89 |
| 13 | Glendale, AZ | $39,690 | $19.08 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $39,583 | $19.03 |
Grade school teacher salary details
A grade school teacher's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $67,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a grade school teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| Average | $50,289 | $4,191 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
Highest paying grade school teacher jobs
The highest paying types of grade school teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and reading teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Teacher | $59,035 | $4,920 | $28.38 | 79,071 |
| Reading Teacher | $55,452 | $4,621 | $26.66 | 68,234 |
| Science Teacher | $59,788 | $4,982 | $28.74 | 71,133 |
| Art Teacher | $50,188 | $4,182 | $24.13 | 69,820 |
| Head Teacher | $51,715 | $4,310 | $24.86 | 73,756 |
| Math Teacher | $51,088 | $4,257 | $24.56 | 59,347 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for grade 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
Top companies hiring grade school teachers now:
Which companies pay grade school teachers the most?
Grade school teacher salaries at Visalia Unified School District and Oldcastle Infrastructure are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average grade school teacher salary at companies like Jefferson Elementary School District and California Montessori Project are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visalia Unified School District | $66,249 | $31.85 |
| 2 | Oldcastle Infrastructure | $59,617 | $28.66 |
| 3 | Jefferson Elementary School District | $55,150 | $26.51 |
| 4 | California Montessori Project | $54,050 | $25.99 |
| 5 | Montgomery County Public Schools | $52,575 | $25.28 |
| 6 | Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District | $52,242 | $25.12 |
| 7 | Gwinnett County Board of Education | $51,792 | $24.90 |
| 8 | Emerald Charter Schools | $51,746 | $24.88 |
| 9 | Apache Junction Unified School District | $50,834 | $24.44 |
| 10 | Legacy Traditional Schools | $50,471 | $24.26 |
| 11 | Orange County High School | $50,379 | $24.22 |
| 12 | Forsyth Country Day School | $50,024 | $24.05 |
| 13 | The School District of Philadelphia | $49,252 | $23.68 |
| 14 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $45,842 | $22.04 |
| 15 | Ross Valley School District | $45,821 | $22.03 |
| 16 | Eureka Ergonomic | $45,537 | $21.89 |
| 17 | Julian Charter School | $45,416 | $21.83 |
| 18 | Henry Clay High School | $44,542 | $21.41 |
| 19 | Derby Public Schools | $44,498 | $21.39 |
| 20 | San Francisco Waldorf School | $44,015 | $21.16 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Grade school teacher salary trends
The average grade school teacher salary has risen by $6,684 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average grade school teacher earned $43,605 annually, but today, they earn $50,289 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for grade school teachers over the last decade.
Compare grade school teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average grade school teacher salary over time
Compare grade school teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Grade school teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $50,300 | $24.18 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $49,200 | $23.67 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $48,100 | $23.10 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $47,200 | $22.68 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $46,000 | $22.14 | +1.6% |
Recently added grade school teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silvis School District 34 | 2Nd Grade Teaching Position School Year | Kane, IL | 06/25/2025 | $46,575 |
| Pendleton Sd 16 | Temporary School Year-5Th Grade | Pendleton, OR | 06/21/2025 | $53,127 |
| AOB | Teacher, ELA & Religion, 4Th Grade Elementary (EX)-OUR Lady of Hope/St. Luke School, D | Dundalk, MD | 06/19/2025 | $50,000 |
| Gwinnett County Public Schools | Teacher In School Suspension-Grades | Suwanee, GA | 06/19/2025 | $60,146 |
| Archdiocese of Chicago, Office of Catholic Schools | SY-6Th Grade Religion & Math-ST. Leonard School-Berwyn-VIC. III | Berwyn, IL | 06/19/2025 | $37,000 |
| Learn and Explore Academy | Second Grade School Teacher | New York, NY | 06/18/2025 | $70,000 |
| Spring ISD | Teacher, 4Th Grade School Year) | Spring, TX | 06/18/2025 | $60,500 |
| Brentwood Union School District | Teacher-7Th/8Th Grade Eld/English School Year | Ione, CA | 06/14/2025 | $65,357 |
| Arizona Department of Education | Teacher-3Rd Grade-Lincoln Elementary School | Mesa, AZ | 06/12/2025 | $55,386 |
| Charles E Smith Jewish Day School of Greater Washington | Lower School General Studies Teacher Grades | Rockville, MD | 06/07/2025 | $46,955 |
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