How to Become an Elementary School Teacher
Teach the academic and social foundations children build on, owning a classroom across every core subject. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $63,970 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$63,970/yr
Middle half
$57,710 to $81,450
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
91,000
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Lesson Planning
- Learning Strategies
- Classroom Management
- Assessment
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- State teaching licensure
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
52/100
Work-life balance
53/100
Stress level
60/100
Related careers
- School Principal (K-12 Administrator)$105,870 median
- College Administrator (Postsecondary)$104,590 median
- School Psychologist$95,990 median
- Instructional Coordinator$77,440 median
- Teacher (Secondary Education)$72,040 median
- Librarian$68,270 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Elementary School Teacher make?
The median pay for an Elementary School Teacher is $63,970 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $57,710 and $81,450 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Elementary School Teacher?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Elementary Education, Education, Child Development, Liberal Arts and General Studies, Music Education, and Spanish.
Is Elementary School Teacher a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 91,000 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Elementary School Teacher use most?
Common skills for this role are Lesson Planning, Learning Strategies, Classroom Management, Assessment, and Communication.
Planning to become a Elementary School Teacher?
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).