Overview
SourcedTeach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
O*NET definition of Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021) · Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed.
Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.
O*NET definition of Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (SOC 25-2022) · Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed.
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
O*NET definition of Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (SOC 25-2031) · Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed.
Titles employers use
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Requirements
Sourced- Education needed to enter
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Education needed to enter
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Education needed to enter
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
Education workers say the job requires
Share of surveyed workers in Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021) naming each level as required to be hired, 21 respondents, O*NET survey August 2024. Each employer sets its own minimum.
Education workers say the job requires
Share of surveyed workers in Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (SOC 25-2022) naming each level as required to be hired, 24 respondents, O*NET survey August 2024. Each employer sets its own minimum.
Education workers say the job requires
Share of surveyed workers in Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (SOC 25-2031) naming each level as required to be hired, 31 respondents, O*NET survey August 2025. Each employer sets its own minimum.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to get hired
SourcedKindergarten and elementary school teachers usually must have at least a bachelor's degree. In addition, public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or license.
From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Academy and training
Sourced- SOC 25-2021
- None
- SOC 25-2022
- None
- SOC 25-2031
- None
- Job zone
- Considerable Preparation Needed
Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Promotion ladder
EditorialSteps and lanes: certificated salary schedule: years (steps) × education (lanes). Typical structure for a public school certificated staff; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.
- Teacher, Step 1 (by lane: BA / BA+15 / MA / MA+30 / PhD)
- Teacher, Steps 2…N (annual)
- Longevity steps
- Mentor / Lead Teacher / Department Chair (stipend)
- Instructional Coach
- Assistant Principal
- Principal
- Central-office Director
- Superintendent
Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).
Pay
SourcedElementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021)
Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.
| Employer type | Workers | 10th pct. | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | 9,500 | $58,930 | $60,050 | $74,680 | $95,060 | $128,370 |
| Local | 1,213,680 | $48,600 | $59,350 | $65,250 | $84,030 | $105,250 |
| All government | 1,223,170 | $48,610 | $59,390 | $65,310 | $84,120 | $105,250 |
| Private sector | 165,210 | $37,950 | $47,320 | $58,110 | $65,120 | $80,230 |
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (SOC 25-2022)
Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.
| Employer type | Workers | 10th pct. | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | 2,970 | $53,910 | $59,350 | $73,670 | $80,650 | $97,600 |
| Local | 545,580 | $48,710 | $59,420 | $65,290 | $81,320 | $103,080 |
| All government | 548,550 | $48,710 | $59,420 | $65,300 | $81,320 | $103,080 |
| Private sector | 71,540 | $39,670 | $48,360 | $60,180 | $75,490 | $90,630 |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (SOC 25-2031)
Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.
| Employer type | Workers | 10th pct. | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | 9,250 | $51,080 | $59,360 | $74,770 | $94,810 | $122,040 |
| Local | 901,420 | $49,390 | $60,590 | $74,190 | $95,110 | $113,340 |
| All government | 910,670 | $49,400 | $60,580 | $74,220 | $95,110 | $113,470 |
| Private sector | 154,530 | $44,280 | $50,000 | $61,760 | $78,750 | $99,850 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Schedule
SourcedShare of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2024). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Day-to-day work
Sourced- Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.5.0
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.4.8
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.4.8
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.4.7
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.4.6
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.4.6
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.4.5
- Read books to entire classes or small groups.4.5
- Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.4.5
- Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.4.5
The 10 most important of 36 core tasks for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2024.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.4.6
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.4.5
- Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.4.5
- Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.4.4
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.4.3
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate these objectives to students.4.3
- Assign lessons and correct homework.4.2
- Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.4.1
- Assist students who need extra help, such as by tutoring and preparing and implementing remedial programs.4.1
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.4.1
The 10 most important of 33 core tasks for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2024.
- Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.4.3
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.4.3
- Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.4.3
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.4.3
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.4.2
- Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.4.1
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.3.9
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.3.9
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.3.9
- Guide and counsel students with adjustments, academic problems, or special academic interests.3.9
The 10 most important of 30 core tasks for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2025.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Related jobs
DerivedExams by name
Sourced| Exam | Administered by | Used in | Type | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) Tests basic reading, mathematics and writing skills important for the job of an educator; not designed to measure the ability to teach those skills. | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), administered by Pearson Evaluation Systems | CA | licensing | Official page |
| Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Core Combined (5752) Combined test made up of subtests 5713, 5723 and 5733; can be taken at home (online) or at a test center. | ETS | US | licensing | Official page |
| Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): PreK-12 (5625) 120 minutes; 100 selected-response questions; computer delivered. | ETS | US | licensing | Official page |
| TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12 (160) 5 hours; 100 selected-response questions; computer-administered test. | Texas Education Agency (TEA), administered by Pearson Evaluation Systems | TX | licensing | Official page |
Each exam is checked against its administrator's official page. Employers choose which exam they use; confirm with the hiring agency.
Source: Exam administrators and hiring authorities (per record), Official exam administrator pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Employer directory
Sourced13,321 school districts in the registry. Regular public school districts in the NCES Common Core of Data (charter-only districts are not included). The 10 largest by teachers (fte):
| Employer | Location | Teachers (FTE) | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Chicago, IL | 23,532 | Official site |
| Los Angeles Unified | Los Angeles, CA | 21,246 | Official site |
| MIAMI-DADE | Miami, FL | 17,139 | Official site |
| Clark County | Las Vegas, NV | 16,446 | Official site |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Falls Church, VA | 13,501 | Official site |
| Gwinnett County | Lawrenceville, GA | 12,796 | — |
| Hawaii Department of Education | Honolulu, HI | 12,215 | Official site |
| Montgomery County Public Schools | Rockville, MD | 11,574 | Official site |
| PALM BEACH | West Palm Beach, FL | 11,548 | Official site |
| ORANGE | Orlando, FL | 11,416 | Official site |
Full lists by state:
As reported by each employer to its federal registry.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff). Data captured September 30, 2026.
By state
SourcedMedian annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.
| State | Workers | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 28,980 | $64,610 | $102,350 | $127,570 |
| California | 155,160 | $61,940 | $99,650 | $127,070 |
| District of Columbia | 3,750 | $63,950 | $96,580 | $128,370 |
| Massachusetts | 29,930 | $60,620 | $94,000 | $118,190 |
| Rhode Island | 3,830 | $45,070 | $90,930 | $99,610 |
| New York | 101,410 | $56,760 | $85,760 | $136,260 |
| Connecticut | 16,330 | $58,870 | $80,600 | $105,890 |
| Alaska | 3,500 | $62,140 | $79,260 | $98,610 |
| New Jersey | 40,300 | $61,840 | $78,200 | $105,480 |
| Maryland | 29,610 | $56,290 | $77,680 | $107,040 |
| Ohio | 47,870 | $47,680 | $77,370 | $99,210 |
| Oregon | 12,600 | $48,500 | $77,130 | $103,540 |
| Pennsylvania | 48,370 | $51,990 | $77,060 | $99,630 |
| Minnesota | 26,640 | $48,870 | $76,350 | $100,880 |
| Delaware | 2,900 | $50,330 | $75,920 | $94,100 |
| Illinois | 61,520 | $47,040 | $75,320 | $105,250 |
| Utah | 14,820 | $49,610 | $74,810 | $100,340 |
| New Mexico | 6,210 | $58,120 | $74,550 | $86,560 |
| New Hampshire | 5,190 | $48,110 | $72,410 | $92,920 |
| Georgia | 43,820 | $49,260 | $72,290 | $98,030 |
| Hawaii | 6,040 | $55,210 | $71,410 | $95,120 |
| Virginia | 37,880 | $49,770 | $65,550 | $100,290 |
| Michigan | 40,910 | $47,670 | $65,110 | $94,680 |
| Nevada | 9,550 | $49,560 | $65,040 | $82,670 |
| Colorado | 24,860 | $48,410 | $63,410 | $98,950 |
| Vermont | 3,610 | $48,700 | $63,070 | $97,230 |
| Texas | 116,260 | $48,500 | $62,760 | $73,570 |
| Maine | 7,490 | $46,570 | $62,390 | $92,100 |
| Nebraska | 8,710 | $46,700 | $62,380 | $78,130 |
| Idaho | 6,850 | $45,940 | $61,600 | $80,710 |
| Alabama | 22,030 | $47,750 | $61,380 | $73,950 |
| Wisconsin | 24,920 | $48,610 | $61,210 | $84,470 |
| Wyoming | 2,600 | $51,630 | $61,150 | $76,860 |
| South Carolina | 25,030 | $48,410 | $60,820 | $77,570 |
| Kentucky | 19,080 | $45,600 | $60,610 | $79,740 |
| Iowa | 17,300 | $47,260 | $60,580 | $77,400 |
| North Dakota | 4,430 | $46,530 | $60,030 | $75,990 |
| Tennessee | 28,240 | $48,100 | $59,980 | $76,840 |
| Indiana | 27,720 | $47,330 | $59,700 | $77,730 |
| Florida | 79,090 | $48,680 | $58,930 | $75,780 |
| Louisiana | 22,060 | $46,680 | $58,770 | $76,380 |
| Montana | 4,960 | $38,160 | $57,530 | $78,450 |
| Arizona | 24,240 | $43,370 | $56,590 | $79,470 |
| Kansas | 14,350 | $47,700 | $56,450 | $71,730 |
| West Virginia | 5,420 | $48,080 | $55,630 | $60,790 |
| North Carolina | 42,410 | $45,570 | $54,930 | $62,590 |
| Arkansas | 12,590 | $49,380 | $52,700 | $63,120 |
| Missouri | 33,180 | $39,980 | $50,910 | $78,820 |
| South Dakota | 4,290 | $47,120 | $50,130 | $60,180 |
| Mississippi | 11,060 | $46,020 | $49,790 | $62,990 |
| Oklahoma | 18,500 | $41,400 | $48,200 | $61,930 |
51 states with published estimates.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Not yet collected
These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.
- 05 ProbationNot yet collectedProbation length and what ends it
- 09 Benefits and pensionNot yet collectedPension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
- 10 Union contractsNot yet collectedBargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
- 11 Transfers and lateral entryNot yet collectedLateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves