Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Elementary school teachers, except special education (SOC 25-2021) employed 1,388,390 people in May 2025. The median pay is $63,970 a year (n/a an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,960 and the highest-paid 10% more than $104,340. BLS projects its employment to change by -0.4% between 2025 and 2035 (about 87,500 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Bachelor's degree.
Highest median pay: Washington ($102,350), California ($99,650), District of Columbia ($96,580). Most jobs: California (155,160), Texas (116,260), New York (101,410).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| 25th percentile | $57,710 | $27.75 |
| Median | $63,970 | n/a |
| Mean | $72,650 | $34.93 |
| 75th percentile | $81,450 | $39.16 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $104,340 | $50.16 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 1,419,300 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 1,413,400 |
| Change in jobs | -5,800 |
| Percent change | -0.4% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 87,500 |
| Self-employed share | 0.3% |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 22,030 | 1.17 | $61,380 | $47,750 | $73,950 | -4% | 21% |
| Alaska | 3,500 | 1.20 | $79,260 | $62,140 | $98,610 | +24% | 22% |
| Arizona | 24,240 | 0.84 | $56,590 | $43,370 | $79,470 | -12% | 35% |
| Arkansas | 12,590 | 1.08 | $52,700 | $49,380 | $63,120 | -18% | 22% |
| California | 155,160 | 0.95 | $99,650 | $61,940 | $127,070 | +56% | 25% |
| Colorado | 24,860 | 0.97 | $63,410 | $48,410 | $98,950 | -1% | 34% |
| Connecticut | 16,330 | 1.08 | $80,600 | $58,870 | $105,890 | +26% | 23% |
| Delaware | 2,900 | 0.67 | $75,920 | $50,330 | $94,100 | +19% | 24% |
| District of Columbia | 3,750 | 0.60 | $96,580 | $63,950 | $128,370 | +51% | 24% |
| Florida | 79,090 | 0.89 | $58,930 | $48,680 | $75,780 | -8% | 37% |
| Georgia | 43,820 | 1.00 | $72,290 | $49,260 | $98,030 | +13% | 25% |
| Hawaii | 6,040 | 1.08 | $71,410 | $55,210 | $95,120 | +12% | 33% |
| Idaho | 6,850 | 0.90 | $61,600 | $45,940 | $80,710 | -4% | 27% |
| Illinois | 61,520 | 1.13 | $75,320 | $47,040 | $105,250 | +18% | 21% |
| Indiana | 27,720 | 0.97 | $59,700 | $47,330 | $77,730 | -7% | 22% |
| Iowa | 17,300 | 1.24 | $60,580 | $47,260 | $77,400 | -5% | 19% |
| Kansas | 14,350 | 1.12 | $56,450 | $47,700 | $71,730 | -12% | 23% |
| Kentucky | 19,080 | 1.07 | $60,610 | $45,600 | $79,740 | -5% | 20% |
| Louisiana | 22,060 | 1.28 | $58,770 | $46,680 | $76,380 | -8% | 22% |
| Maine | 7,490 | 1.31 | $62,390 | $46,570 | $92,100 | -2% | 23% |
| Maryland | 29,610 | 1.20 | $77,680 | $56,290 | $107,040 | +21% | 27% |
| Massachusetts | 29,930 | 0.92 | $94,000 | $60,620 | $118,190 | +47% | 24% |
| Michigan | 40,910 | 1.04 | $65,110 | $47,670 | $94,680 | +2% | 22% |
| Minnesota | 26,640 | 1.01 | $76,350 | $48,870 | $100,880 | +19% | 20% |
| Mississippi | 11,060 | 1.07 | $49,790 | $46,020 | $62,990 | -22% | 24% |
| Missouri | 33,180 | 1.27 | $50,910 | $39,980 | $78,820 | -20% | 25% |
| Montana | 4,960 | 1.09 | $57,530 | $38,160 | $78,450 | -10% | 25% |
| Nebraska | 8,710 | 0.95 | $62,380 | $46,700 | $78,130 | -2% | 21% |
| Nevada | 9,550 | 0.69 | $65,040 | $49,560 | $82,670 | +2% | 32% |
| New Hampshire | 5,190 | 0.85 | $72,410 | $48,110 | $92,920 | +13% | 26% |
| New Jersey | 40,300 | 1.05 | $78,200 | $61,840 | $105,480 | +22% | 28% |
| New Mexico | 6,210 | 0.80 | $74,550 | $58,120 | $86,560 | +17% | 18% |
| New York | 101,410 | 1.17 | $85,760 | $56,760 | $136,260 | +34% | 23% |
| North Carolina | 42,410 | 0.96 | $54,930 | $45,570 | $62,590 | -14% | 29% |
| North Dakota | 4,430 | 1.15 | $60,030 | $46,530 | $75,990 | -6% | 20% |
| Ohio | 47,870 | 0.97 | $77,370 | $47,680 | $99,210 | +21% | 17% |
| Oklahoma | 18,500 | 1.21 | $48,200 | $41,400 | $61,930 | -25% | 26% |
| Oregon | 12,600 | 0.72 | $77,130 | $48,500 | $103,540 | +21% | 25% |
| Pennsylvania | 48,370 | 0.89 | $77,060 | $51,990 | $99,630 | +20% | 19% |
| Rhode Island | 3,830 | 0.86 | $90,930 | $45,070 | $99,610 | +42% | 19% |
| South Carolina | 25,030 | 1.22 | $60,820 | $48,410 | $77,570 | -5% | 25% |
| South Dakota | 4,290 | 1.05 | $50,130 | $47,120 | $60,180 | -22% | 24% |
| Tennessee | 28,240 | 0.96 | $59,980 | $48,100 | $76,840 | -6% | 26% |
| Texas | 116,260 | 0.93 | $62,760 | $48,500 | $73,570 | -2% | 28% |
| Utah | 14,820 | 0.96 | $74,810 | $49,610 | $100,340 | +17% | 26% |
| Vermont | 3,610 | 1.33 | $63,070 | $48,700 | $97,230 | -1% | 25% |
| Virginia | 37,880 | 1.03 | $65,550 | $49,770 | $100,290 | +2% | 30% |
| Washington | 28,980 | 0.91 | $102,350 | $64,610 | $127,570 | +60% | 21% |
| West Virginia | 5,420 | 0.87 | $55,630 | $48,080 | $60,790 | -13% | 19% |
| Wisconsin | 24,920 | 0.95 | $61,210 | $48,610 | $84,470 | -4% | 22% |
| Wyoming | 2,600 | 1.04 | $61,150 | $51,630 | $76,860 | -4% | 20% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 950 | $104,650 | $62,890 | $120,250 | 0.81 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 10,480 | $103,390 | $60,980 | $117,100 | 1.09 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 14,560 | $102,920 | $67,550 | $131,990 | 0.78 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 7,810 | $102,860 | $64,770 | $126,980 | 0.77 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 900 | $102,650 | $67,750 | $130,210 | 1.07 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 44,790 | $101,860 | $62,250 | $129,130 | 0.80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 17,860 | $101,860 | $62,340 | $126,700 | 0.84 |
| Modesto, CA | 2,450 | $101,640 | $64,670 | $128,290 | 1.40 |
| Bellingham, WA | 790 | $101,230 | $63,670 | $127,490 | 0.97 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 2,170 | $101,030 | $62,530 | $124,770 | 1.21 |
| Vallejo, CA | 1,680 | $100,790 | $62,640 | $131,020 | 1.30 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 500 | $100,730 | $79,390 | $132,840 | 1.07 |
| Napa, CA | 570 | $100,410 | $62,790 | $130,760 | 0.82 |
| El Centro, CA | 860 | $100,390 | $60,800 | $135,570 | 1.48 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 1,410 | $100,380 | $66,380 | $115,980 | 1.22 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 510 | $100,340 | $61,420 | $102,380 | 1.11 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 810 | $100,320 | $61,660 | $110,190 | 0.97 |
| Salinas, CA | 2,280 | $100,220 | $64,050 | $125,450 | 1.37 |
| Merced, CA | 1,560 | $100,120 | $74,520 | $129,410 | 2.19 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 3,060 | $99,420 | $63,180 | $123,400 | 1.06 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 1,000 | $99,260 | $62,070 | $126,150 | 1.14 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 2,180 | $99,060 | $60,130 | $119,560 | 1.19 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 2,340 | $98,800 | $61,170 | $108,480 | 1.02 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 4,590 | $98,600 | $61,220 | $123,990 | 1.27 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 18,850 | $98,520 | $62,330 | $130,850 | 1.23 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 950 | $98,470 | $63,040 | $127,320 | 2.18 |
| Visalia, CA | 2,440 | $98,430 | $62,490 | $126,220 | 1.60 |
| Yakima, WA | 1,360 | $98,330 | $61,820 | $112,700 | 1.57 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 20,340 | $98,060 | $61,660 | $124,880 | 0.84 |
| Kingston, NY | 710 | $97,920 | $60,430 | $125,740 | 1.35 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 1,140 | $97,620 | $61,800 | $125,920 | 1.05 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 3,380 | $97,400 | $62,550 | $119,060 | 1.31 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 11,340 | $97,000 | $62,140 | $123,450 | 0.83 |
| Yuba City, CA | 920 | $97,000 | $62,420 | $124,720 | 2.01 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 98,900 | $96,900 | $62,530 | $136,330 | 1.17 |
| Chico, CA | 1,120 | $95,000 | $60,900 | $120,560 | 1.60 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 6,280 | $86,720 | $50,060 | $99,610 | 0.99 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 1,060 | $83,840 | $60,530 | $102,610 | 0.94 |
| Redding, CA | 1,110 | $83,780 | $59,650 | $120,740 | 1.74 |
| Worcester, MA | 3,850 | $82,810 | $60,170 | $101,920 | 1.23 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 7,530 | $82,330 | $50,270 | $107,650 | 0.70 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 3,140 | $81,770 | $47,280 | $128,430 | 1.31 |
| Boulder, CO | 1,630 | $80,640 | $60,420 | $125,420 | 0.95 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 1,620 | $80,480 | $59,570 | $102,590 | 1.08 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 3,430 | $80,360 | $48,310 | $96,350 | 1.03 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 440 | $79,910 | $61,670 | $103,970 | 1.20 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 640 | $79,900 | $51,890 | $96,220 | 1.09 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 4,540 | $79,900 | $61,230 | $118,580 | 1.50 |
| Reading, PA | 1,780 | $79,860 | $59,420 | $94,700 | 1.14 |
| New Haven, CT | 2,730 | $79,820 | $49,630 | $102,790 | 1.09 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 4,980 | $79,800 | $51,880 | $105,810 | 0.93 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 16,990 | $79,730 | $49,490 | $101,210 | 0.98 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 2,260 | $79,730 | $50,620 | $94,510 | 1.38 |
| Springfield, MA | 2,340 | $79,640 | $58,240 | $96,360 | 1.31 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 2,110 | $79,640 | $60,570 | $103,730 | 1.47 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 30,940 | $79,470 | $60,790 | $122,580 | 1.10 |
| Anchorage, AK | 1,720 | $79,270 | $62,750 | $97,090 | 1.09 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 3,550 | $79,240 | $51,510 | $104,390 | 0.88 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 4,260 | $79,040 | $53,870 | $99,250 | 1.27 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 530 | $78,910 | $52,010 | $97,070 | 1.04 |
The median is $63,970 a year (n/a an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $47,960 and the highest-paid tenth over $104,340 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
1,388,390 in May 2025, and BLS projects -0.4% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Bachelor's degree (BLS).
Washington, with a median of $102,350 (among states with published figures).