Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary in the U.S.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the U.S. earn a median of $63,970 a year, based on BLS data for 1,388,390 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,340 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $72,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for elementary school teachers, except special education in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,960 |
| 25th percentile | $57,710 |
| Median | $63,970 |
| 75th percentile | $81,450 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,340 |
| Average (mean) | $72,650 |
Half of elementary school teachers, except special education earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,330.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,665.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,460.38 |
| Weekly | $1,230.19 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because elementary school teachers, except special education are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $102,350 | 28,980 |
| California | $99,650 | 155,160 |
| District of Columbia | $96,580 | 3,750 |
| Massachusetts | $94,000 | 29,930 |
| Rhode Island | $90,930 | 3,830 |
| New York | $85,760 | 101,410 |
| Connecticut | $80,600 | 16,330 |
| Alaska | $79,260 | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | $78,200 | 40,300 |
| Maryland | $77,680 | 29,610 |
| Ohio | $77,370 | 47,870 |
| Oregon | $77,130 | 12,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,060 | 48,370 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 | 26,640 |
| Delaware | $75,920 | 2,900 |
| Illinois | $75,320 | 61,520 |
| Utah | $74,810 | 14,820 |
| New Mexico | $74,550 | 6,210 |
| New Hampshire | $72,410 | 5,190 |
| Georgia | $72,290 | 43,820 |
| Hawaii | $71,410 | 6,040 |
| Virginia | $65,550 | 37,880 |
| Michigan | $65,110 | 40,910 |
| Nevada | $65,040 | 9,550 |
| Colorado | $63,410 | 24,860 |
| Vermont | $63,070 | 3,610 |
| Texas | $62,760 | 116,260 |
| Maine | $62,390 | 7,490 |
| Nebraska | $62,380 | 8,710 |
| Guam | $62,240 | 1,000 |
| Idaho | $61,600 | 6,850 |
| Alabama | $61,380 | 22,030 |
| Wisconsin | $61,210 | 24,920 |
| Wyoming | $61,150 | 2,600 |
| South Carolina | $60,820 | 25,030 |
| Kentucky | $60,610 | 19,080 |
| Iowa | $60,580 | 17,300 |
| Virgin Islands | $60,560 | 630 |
| North Dakota | $60,030 | 4,430 |
| Tennessee | $59,980 | 28,240 |
| Indiana | $59,700 | 27,720 |
| Florida | $58,930 | 79,090 |
| Louisiana | $58,770 | 22,060 |
| Montana | $57,530 | 4,960 |
| Arizona | $56,590 | 24,240 |
| Kansas | $56,450 | 14,350 |
| West Virginia | $55,630 | 5,420 |
| North Carolina | $54,930 | 42,410 |
| Arkansas | $52,700 | 12,590 |
| Puerto Rico | $51,540 | 4,370 |
| Missouri | $50,910 | 33,180 |
| South Dakota | $50,130 | 4,290 |
| Mississippi | $49,790 | 11,060 |
| Oklahoma | $48,200 | 18,500 |
Best-paying metro areas for elementary school teachers, except special education
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $104,650 | 950 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $103,390 | 10,480 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $102,980 | 220 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,920 | 14,560 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $102,860 | 7,810 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $102,650 | 900 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,860 | 44,790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $101,860 | 17,860 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,640 | 2,450 |
| Bellingham, WA | $101,230 | 790 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $101,030 | 2,170 |
| Vallejo, CA | $100,790 | 1,680 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $100,730 | 500 |
| Napa, CA | $100,410 | 570 |
| El Centro, CA | $100,390 | 860 |
Metro areas with the most elementary school teachers, except special education
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 98,900 | $96,900 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 45,840 | $78,390 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 44,790 | $101,860 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 30,980 | $64,500 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 30,940 | $79,470 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 27,350 | $65,070 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 23,380 | $78,570 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 23,370 | $76,570 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 20,340 | $98,060 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 19,910 | $58,300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 18,850 | $98,520 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 18,390 | $65,210 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 17,860 | $101,860 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 16,990 | $79,730 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 16,560 | $59,180 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a elementary school teachers, except special education make in the U.S.?
The median salary for elementary school teachers, except special education in the U.S. is $63,970 a year. Pay ranges from $47,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid elementary school teachers, except special education make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of elementary school teachers, except special education in the U.S. earn at least $104,340 a year. The top 25% earn $81,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for elementary school teachers, except special education in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,960 a year, and a quarter of elementary school teachers, except special education earn $57,710 or less.
How many elementary school teachers, except special education work in the U.S.?
About 1,388,390 elementary school teachers, except special education are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.