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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn a median $63,970 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations

U.S. median
$63,970
$30.75 per hour
Range
$47,960 – $104,340
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
1,388,390
across the U.S.
▲2.6%
Pay trend: The median for elementary school teachers, except special education in the U.S. rose from $62,340 (May 2024) to $63,970 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

What elementary school teachers, except special education do

Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.

Typical education
Bachelor's degree
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
None
Job outlook, 2025–35
-0.4% (slower than average)
Openings per year
87,500

Employment of elementary school teachers, except special education is projected to shrink 0.4% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 87,500 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$53,580
per year · effective tax rate 16.2%
$4,465Monthly
$2,232Twice a month
$2,061Every 2 weeks
$25.76Hourly
  • Federal income tax$5,496
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,966
  • Medicare (1.45%)$928
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$53,580

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$47,960$23.06$40,716
25th percentile$57,710$27.75$48,550
Median (50th)$63,970$30.75$53,580
75th percentile$81,450$39.16$66,130
90th percentile (top earners)$104,340$50.16$82,233

Best cities for elementary school teachers, except special education (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Seattle, WA$102,920$81,234$73,09614,560
2Visalia, CA$98,430$71,872$71,9982,440
3Modesto, CA$101,640$73,789$70,8782,450
4Sacramento, CA$103,390$74,835$70,15610,480
5Bridgeport, CT$98,600$74,347$69,5724,590
6Dayton, OH$80,360$63,936$68,9753,430
7Stockton, CA$97,400$71,256$67,8053,380
8Riverside, CA$98,520$71,925$67,57218,850
9Boston, MA$98,060$73,132$67,54920,340
10San Jose, CA$102,860$74,518$67,4857,810
11Providence, RI$86,720$67,202$66,0326,280
12Oxnard, CA$99,420$72,463$65,5573,060
13Columbus, OH$78,150$62,442$65,4059,950
14Cleveland, OH$76,470$61,306$65,2735,460
15Los Angeles, CA$101,860$73,921$65,09144,790
16New York, NY$96,900$72,322$64,25198,900
17San Francisco, CA$101,860$73,921$63,93817,860
18Pittsburgh, PA$76,550$60,333$63,7297,640
19San Diego, CA$97,000$71,017$63,47211,340
20Syracuse, NY$78,560$60,452$63,1402,620
21Lancaster, PA$78,360$61,551$62,6422,350
22Allentown, PA$79,040$62,008$62,0284,260
23Buffalo, NY$76,490$59,107$61,6705,810
24Worcester, MA$82,810$63,166$61,6123,850
25Harrisburg, PA$77,160$60,743$61,5752,990

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Washington $102,350+3.3%$80,833 $64,610 – $127,57028,980
California $99,650+1.5%$72,600 $61,940 – $127,070155,160
District of Columbia $96,580+2.0%$71,533 $63,950 – $128,3703,750
Massachusetts $94,000+12.9%$70,479 $60,620 – $118,19029,930
Rhode Island $90,930+4.6%$70,006 $45,070 – $99,6103,830
New York $85,760+4.0%$65,128 $56,760 – $136,260101,410
Connecticut $80,600+2.4%$62,674 $58,870 – $105,89016,330
Alaska $79,260+3.9%$64,589 $62,140 – $98,6103,500
New Jersey $78,200+1.4%$61,052 $61,840 – $105,48040,300
Maryland $77,680+4.0%$60,152 $56,290 – $107,04029,610
Ohio $77,370+18.3%$61,914 $47,680 – $99,21047,870
Oregon $77,130+1.8%$57,172 $48,500 – $103,54012,600
Pennsylvania $77,060+3.9%$60,676 $51,990 – $99,63048,370
Minnesota $76,350+21.0%$58,874 $48,870 – $100,88026,640
Delaware $75,920+14.4%$58,570 $50,330 – $94,1002,900
Illinois $75,320+17.4%$58,234 $47,040 – $105,25061,520
Utah $74,810+21.2%$59,058 $49,610 – $100,34014,820
New Mexico $74,550+13.8%$58,938 $58,120 – $86,5606,210
New Hampshire $72,410+12.4%$59,770 $48,110 – $92,9205,190
Georgia $72,290+13.9%$56,557 $49,260 – $98,03043,820
Hawaii $71,410+18.2%$55,170 $55,210 – $95,1206,040
Virginia $65,550+5.3%$51,894 $49,770 – $100,29037,880
Michigan $65,110+4.4%$51,979 $47,670 – $94,68040,910
Nevada $65,040+4.2%$54,440 $49,560 – $82,6709,550
Colorado $63,410+3.0%$51,048 $48,410 – $98,95024,860
Vermont $63,070+2.9%$51,154 $48,700 – $97,2303,610
Texas $62,760+2.2%$52,608 $48,500 – $73,570116,260
Maine $62,390+0.1%$49,281 $46,570 – $92,1007,490
Nebraska $62,380+1.1%$50,344 $46,700 – $78,1308,710
Idaho $61,600+3.3%$49,519 $45,940 – $80,7106,850
Alabama $61,380+2.6%$48,695 $47,750 – $73,95022,030
Wisconsin $61,210+0.9%$49,450 $48,610 – $84,47024,920
Wyoming $61,150−0.7%$51,314 $51,630 – $76,8602,600
South Carolina $60,820+2.4%$48,557 $48,410 – $77,57025,030
Kentucky $60,610+4.5%$48,876 $45,600 – $79,74019,080
Iowa $60,580+9.1%$49,206 $47,260 – $77,40017,300
North Dakota $60,030+3.8%$50,414 $46,530 – $75,9904,430
Tennessee $59,980+13.8%$50,374 $48,100 – $76,84028,240
Indiana $59,700+2.3%$48,417 $47,330 – $77,73027,720
Florida $58,930+6.1%$49,530 $48,680 – $75,78079,090
Louisiana $58,770+12.4%$48,025 $46,680 – $76,38022,060
Montana $57,530+2.4%$46,458 $38,160 – $78,4504,960
Arizona $56,590+11.0%$46,444 $43,370 – $79,47024,240
Kansas $56,450+11.1%$45,187 $47,700 – $71,73014,350
West Virginia $55,630+0.1%$45,108 $48,080 – $60,7905,420
North Carolina $54,930+11.2%$44,633 $45,570 – $62,59042,410
Arkansas $52,700+4.3%$42,682 $49,380 – $63,12012,590
Missouri $50,910+5.5%$41,631 $39,980 – $78,82033,180
South Dakota $50,130+2.1%$42,459 $47,120 – $60,1804,290
Mississippi $49,790+2.8%$40,927 $46,020 – $62,99011,060
Oklahoma $48,200+1.5%$39,285 $41,400 – $61,93018,500

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370Bachelor's degree-0.4%
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School$65,030Bachelor's degree-0.5%
Special Education Teachers, Preschool$64,830Bachelor's degree+2.4%
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$65,120Bachelor's degree-0.4%
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$62,680Bachelor's degree-0.3%
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$66,270Bachelor's degree-0.4%
Special Education Teachers, Middle School$66,810Bachelor's degree-0.4%
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040Bachelor's degree-0.2%
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$74,260Bachelor's degree-0.2%
Special Education Teachers, All Other$76,580Bachelor's degree+1.9%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a elementary school teachers, except special education make?

The national median salary for elementary school teachers, except special education is $63,970 a year ($30.75 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,960 and the top 10% earn over $104,340. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays elementary school teachers, except special education the most?

Washington has the highest median pay at $102,350. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many elementary school teachers, except special education are there in the U.S.?

About 1,388,390 people work as elementary school teachers, except special education nationwide.

All 99 cities