Jobs Similar to Elementary School Teachers
Also called: Elementary School Teachers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to elementary school teachers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Kindergarten Teachers, Secondary School Teachers and Special Education Teachers (Middle School).
Elementary School Teachers: $63,970 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
88% similar · $62,680 (−2%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
87% similar · $72,040 (+13%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Special Education Teachers, Middle School
86% similar · $66,810 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
86% similar · $74,260 (+16%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
86% similar · $64,370 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
85% similar · $61,540 (−4%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
83% similar · $41,670 (−35%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Special Education Teachers, Preschool
83% similar · $64,830 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
83% similar · $65,030 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Tutors
82% similar · $43,350 (−32%) · Training or associate
- 11Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
82% similar · $75,870 (+19%) · Graduate degree
- 12Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
82% similar · $38,140 (−40%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 13Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
82% similar · $66,270 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Instructional Coordinators
81% similar · $77,440 (+21%) · Graduate degree
- 15Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
81% similar · $77,570 (+21%) · Graduate degree
- 16Education Teachers, Postsecondary
81% similar · $75,350 (+18%) · Graduate degree
- 17English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
81% similar · $78,760 (+23%) · Graduate degree
- 18Self-Enrichment Teachers
80% similar · $46,800 (−27%) · Training or associate
- 19Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
80% similar · $64,330 (+1%) · Graduate degree
- 20Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $80,340 (+26%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than elementary school teachers.
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School86% similar · $74,260 (+16%)
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education87% similar · $72,040 (+13%)
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School86% similar · $66,810 (+4%)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School82% similar · $66,270 (+4%)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School83% similar · $65,030 (+2%)
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education86% similar · $64,370 (+1%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for elementary school teachers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where elementary school teachers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors (95)
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term (93)
- Tutors (87)
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary (86)
- Self-Enrichment Teachers (85)
- Instructional Coordinators (84)
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (80)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (79)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (79)
- Recreational Therapists (78)
Questions about jobs like elementary school teachers
What jobs are most similar to elementary school teachers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Kindergarten Teachers (88% similar), Secondary School Teachers (87% similar), Special Education Teachers (Middle School) (86% similar), Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) (86% similar) and Middle School Teachers (86% similar).
Which jobs like elementary school teachers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Psychology Teachers ($80,340, +26%; usually a graduate degree), English Language and Literature Teachers ($78,760, +23%; usually a graduate degree) and Instructional Coordinators ($77,440, +21%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with elementary school teachers ($63,970). Without more preparation than elementary school teachers usually need: Special Education Teachers (Secondary School), Secondary School Teachers and Special Education Teachers (Middle School).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.