Elementary School Teacher, Except Special Education Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$63,970
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$30.75
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$104,340
entry level starts ~$47,960
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 1,388,000 employed

How much does an Elementary School Teacher, Except Special Education make?

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the United States bring home a median salary of $63,970 a year, or around $30.75 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $47,960, while the top 10% earn $104,340.

That is $2,580 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Elementary School Teacher, Except Special Education salary range by percentile

Half of all Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn between $57,710 and $81,450 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$47,960$23.06
25th percentile (early career)$57,710$27.75
50th percentile (median)$63,970$30.75
75th percentile (experienced)$81,450$39.16
90th percentile (top earners)$104,340$50.16

Highest-paying states for Elementary School Teacher, Except Special Education

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Elementary School Teacher, Except Special Education pay at $102,350 a year, followed by California ($99,650) and District of Columbia ($96,580). At the other end, Oklahoma posts the lowest median at $48,200 — a gap of $54,150 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Washington$102,350$49.21+60%
2California$99,650$47.91+56%
3District of Columbia$96,580$46.43+51%
4Massachusetts$94,000$45.19+47%
5Rhode Island$90,930$43.72+42%

Workforce and education

About 1,388,000 people work as Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $72,650 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Elementary School Teacher, Except Special Education make in the United States?
The median Elementary School Teacher, Except Special Education salary in the United States is $63,970 per year, or about $30.75 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $47,960, while the top 10% of earners make $104,340 or more.
How does Elementary School Teacher, Except Special Education pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Elementary School Teacher, Except Special Education median of $63,970 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, with a median salary of $102,350 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become an Elementary School Teacher, Except Special Education?
Becoming an Elementary School Teacher, Except Special Education typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education work in the United States?
About 1,388,000 people were employed as Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other education roles with similar pay.

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$80,260
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$63,420
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$64,830
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$80,340
median pay · 4,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.