Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
Also called: Art Teacher · Classroom Teacher · Elementary Classroom Teacher · Elementary School Teacher · Elementary Teacher · Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher)
Median pay (national)
$62,340
$46,440–$102,010 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
1,393,310
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-2%
~91,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for elementary school teachers, except special education shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $102,010 versus $46,440 at the bottom 10% — 2.2x. The median of $62,340 leaves roughly 64% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -2% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 91,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $99,110, +59% vs the national median), while Guam sits lowest at $30,810 — a 222% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Learning Strategies, Speaking, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Learning Strategies
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
- Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.
Tools & technology
- Blackboard software
- Children's educational software
- ClassDojo
- ClassTag
- Common Curriculum
- EasyCBM
- Edpuzzle
- Flipgrid
- Google Classroom
- Google Drive
- Google Meet
- Graphics software
- JamBoard
- Kahoot!
- Nearpod
- Padlet
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security