Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · 1.4M employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$63,970
Median hourly
$31
Average annual
$72,650
Typical range
$47,960–$104,340
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education is $63,970 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $31 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level..
Most earn between $47,960 and $104,340 a year. There are roughly 1.4M people employed as elementary school teachers, except special education in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education.
- Hourly
- $30.75
- Daily
- $246
- Weekly
- $1,230
- Bi-weekly
- $2,460
- Monthly
- $5,331
- Annual
- $63,970
$63,970 a year is around the 50th percentile for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations. The median is $63,970.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Washington$102,350
- 2California$99,650
- 3District of Columbia$96,580
- 4Massachusetts$94,000
- 5Rhode Island$90,930
- 6New York$85,760
- 7Connecticut$80,600
- 8Alaska$79,260
- 9New Jersey$78,200
- 10Maryland$77,680
- 11Ohio$77,370
- 12Oregon$77,130
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$104,650
- 2Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$103,390
- 3Walla Walla, WA$102,980
- 4Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$102,920
- 5San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$102,860
- 6Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$102,650
- 7Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$101,860
- 8San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$101,860
- 9Modesto, CA$101,640
- 10Bellingham, WA$101,230
- 11Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$101,030
- 12Vallejo, CA$100,790
Related job titles
Employers advertise Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$62,680
- Tutors$43,350
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$61,540
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$74,260
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School$66,810
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary$75,350
What a Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education does
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Read books to entire classes or small groups.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
- Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education make?
- The median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education is $63,970 ($31 per hour). Pay ranges from about $47,960 at the 10th percentile to $104,340 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $72,650, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations the most?
- Washington has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $102,350.
- Is Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 1.4M people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education do?
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.; Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.; Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests..