Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: Career Overview
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
Featured schools near , edit
What Do Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of elementary school teachers, except special education cover:
- 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.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and 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.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Read books to entire classes or small groups.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective elementary school teachers, except special education combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Art Educator
- Art Instructor
- Art Teacher
- Band Teacher
- Bilingual Instructor
- Bilingual Teacher
- Choir Teacher
- Classroom Teacher
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 80,188 elementary school teachers, except special education working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +4.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $75,366 |
| Hourly median | $36.23 |
| 10th percentile | $46,747 |
| 25th percentile | $61,057 |
| 75th percentile | $89,676 |
| 90th percentile | $103,986 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $99,110 |
| California | $98,190 |
| District of Columbia | $94,730 |
| Rhode Island | $86,900 |
| Massachusetts | $83,260 |
| New York | $82,480 |
| Connecticut | $78,740 |
| New Jersey | $77,150 |
| Alaska | $76,290 |
| Oregon | $75,800 |
| Maryland | $74,720 |
| Pennsylvania | $74,160 |
| Delaware | $66,390 |
| New Mexico | $65,510 |
| Ohio | $65,380 |
| New Hampshire | $64,430 |
| Illinois | $64,160 |
| Georgia | $63,490 |
| Minnesota | $63,120 |
| Nevada | $62,420 |
| Michigan | $62,350 |
| Maine | $62,300 |
| Virginia | $62,270 |
| Utah | $61,710 |
| Nebraska | $61,700 |
| Wyoming | $61,560 |
| Colorado | $61,550 |
| Texas | $61,380 |
| Vermont | $61,270 |
| Wisconsin | $60,690 |
| Hawaii | $60,420 |
| Alabama | $59,850 |
| Idaho | $59,620 |
| South Carolina | $59,370 |
| Indiana | $58,370 |
| Kentucky | $57,980 |
| North Dakota | $57,820 |
| Montana | $56,200 |
| Florida | $55,550 |
| West Virginia | $55,550 |
| Iowa | $55,540 |
| Tennessee | $52,690 |
| Louisiana | $52,280 |
| Arizona | $50,980 |
| Kansas | $50,820 |
| Arkansas | $50,550 |
| Virgin Islands | $50,530 |
| North Carolina | $49,400 |
| South Dakota | $49,110 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,690 |
| Mississippi | $48,440 |
| Missouri | $48,250 |
| Oklahoma | $47,470 |
| Guam | $30,810 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for elementary school teachers, except special education vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $93,854 | 14.6% | 0.87 |
| Middle Atlantic | $78,741 | 16.6% | 1.12 |
| New England | $77,823 | 4.8% | 1.02 |
| Great Lakes | $62,872 | 14.6% | 1.03 |
| Rocky Mountains | $60,882 | 4.0% | 1.00 |
| Southwest | $58,694 | 12.4% | 0.99 |
| Southeast | $56,219 | 24.5% | 1.00 |
| Plains States | $54,288 | 8.0% | 1.21 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $103,580 | 550 |
| El Centro, CA | CA | $101,960 | 760 |
| Visalia, CA | CA | $101,340 | 2,520 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $101,300 | 1,730 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $101,170 | 1,030 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $100,620 | 1,020 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $100,580 | 42,880 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $100,430 | 2,370 |
Which Industries Hire Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Most elementary school teachers, except special education are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 1,388,940 | n/a |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 2,020 | n/a |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,710 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where elementary school teachers, except special education work:
Tools and Technology
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for elementary school teachers, except special education tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Physical Proximity
Education and Training
Typical elementary school teachers, except special education positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (Supplemental)
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (Primary-Short)
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Primary-Short)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School (Supplemental)
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Aspiring elementary school teachers, except special education typically earn programs in:
Education
14 programs across 4 majors
- Teacher Education Grade Specific
- Teaching English or French
- Multilingual Education
- Teacher Education Subject Specific
Social Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-2021.00 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education).