How much does an elementary school teacher make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $30.75 an hour or $5,331 a month.
- Hourly
- $30.75
- Average (mean)
- $72,650
- Jobs
- 1,388,390
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,960 | $23.06 | |
| 25th | $57,710 | $27.75 | |
| Median | $63,970 | $30.75 | |
| 75th | $81,450 | $39.16 | |
| 90th | $104,300 | $50.16 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Washington | $102,400 |
| California | $99,650 |
| District of Columbia | $96,580 |
| Massachusetts | $94,000 |
| Rhode Island | $90,930 |
| New York | $85,760 |
| Connecticut | $80,600 |
| Alaska | $79,260 |
| New Jersey | $78,200 |
| Maryland | $77,680 |
| Ohio | $77,370 |
| Oregon | $77,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,060 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 |
| Delaware | $75,920 |
| Illinois | $75,320 |
| Utah | $74,810 |
| New Mexico | $74,550 |
| New Hampshire | $72,410 |
| Georgia | $72,290 |
| Hawaii | $71,410 |
| Virginia | $65,550 |
| Michigan | $65,110 |
| Nevada | $65,040 |
| Colorado | $63,410 |
| Vermont | $63,070 |
| Texas | $62,760 |
| Maine | $62,390 |
| Nebraska | $62,380 |
| Idaho | $61,600 |
| Alabama | $61,380 |
| Wisconsin | $61,210 |
| Wyoming | $61,150 |
| South Carolina | $60,820 |
| Kentucky | $60,610 |
| Iowa | $60,580 |
| North Dakota | $60,030 |
| Tennessee | $59,980 |
| Indiana | $59,700 |
| Florida | $58,930 |
| Louisiana | $58,770 |
| Montana | $57,530 |
| Arizona | $56,590 |
| Kansas | $56,450 |
| West Virginia | $55,630 |
| North Carolina | $54,930 |
| Arkansas | $52,700 |
| Missouri | $50,910 |
| South Dakota | $50,130 |
| Mississippi | $49,790 |
| Oklahoma | $48,200 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Olympia, WA | $104,700 |
| Sacramento, CA | $103,400 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $103,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $102,900 |
| San Jose, CA | $102,900 |
| Bremerton, WA | $102,700 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $101,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $101,900 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,600 |
| Bellingham, WA | $101,200 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $101,000 |
| Vallejo, CA | $100,800 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $100,700 |
| Napa, CA | $100,400 |
| El Centro, CA | $100,400 |
In other countries
Elementary School Teacher belongs to the international group "Primary school teachers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Preschool Teacher$38,140
- Kindergarten Teacher$62,680
- Middle School Teacher$64,370
- Career/Technical Education Teacher$65,030
- Secondary School Teacher$72,040
- Career/Technical Education Teacher$66,270
- Special Education Teacher$64,830
- Special Education Teacher$65,120
- Special Education Teacher$66,810
- Special Education Teacher$74,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does an elementary school teacher make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $30.75 ($63,970 a year).
How much does an elementary school teacher make a month?
About $5,331 a month before tax, based on a median of $63,970 a year.
How much does an elementary school teacher make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $47,960 or less a year ($23.06 an hour); the top 10% make $104,300 or more.
Which state pays elementary school teachers the most?
Washington, with a median of $102,400 a year, followed by California ($99,650) and District of Columbia ($96,580).
Which city pays elementary school teachers the most?
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA, with a median of $104,700 a year.
How many elementary school teachers are there in the United States?
About 1,388,390 people work as elementary school teachers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.