Elementary School Teachers
O*NET title: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Also called: Elementary School Teachers
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
Also called: Art Educator, Art Instructor, Art Teacher, Band Teacher, Bilingual Instructor, Bilingual Teacher
Median pay
$63,970
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$47,960 – $104,340
People employed
1,388,390
Holland code
SAC
Social · Artistic · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 2.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 3.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 4.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 5.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 6.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 7.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
- Tight deadlines are common
Elementary School Teachers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What elementary school teachers do
- 01Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- 02Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
- 03Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.
- 04Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- 05Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- 06Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Skills that matter most
- Learning Strategies
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
Work styles that stand out
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
- Stress Tolerance
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from elementary school teachers
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors95% · −4%
- Instructional Coordinators80% · +21%
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary80% · +18%
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers79% · −7%
- Training and Development Specialists78% · +8%
Change into elementary school teachers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors95% · $61,540
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term93% · $41,670
- Tutors87% · $43,350
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary86% · $42,910
- Self-Enrichment Teachers85% · $46,800
Majors that lead here
- Bilingual and Multilingual Education
- Elementary Education and Teaching
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
- Montessori Teacher Education
- Waldorf/Steiner Teacher Education
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching
- Online Educator/Online Teaching
- International Teaching and Learning
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods
- Environmental Education
- Communication Arts and Literature Teacher Education
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.