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Elementary School Teacher

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What Does it Take to Be an Elementary School Teacher?

Career Description Teach students basic academic, social, and other formative skills in public or private schools at the elementary level.

Daily Life Of an Elementary School Teacher

  • Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
  • Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
  • Involve parent volunteers and older students in children’s activities to facilitate involvement in focused, complex play.
  • Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
  • Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
  • Read books to entire classes or small groups.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Elementary School Teacher?

These are the skills Elementary School Teachers say are the most useful in their careers:

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Types of Elementary School Teacher

  • Language Instructor
  • Physical Fitness Teacher
  • General Education Teacher
  • Elementary School Band Director
  • Art Instructor

Job Opportunities for Elementary School Teachers

In the United States, there were 1,410,900 jobs for Elementary School Teacher in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 104,000 new jobs for Elementary School Teacher by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 112,800 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Elementary School Teacher are Utah, Nevada, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Connecticut, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of an Elementary School Teacher

The salary for Elementary School Teachers ranges between about $37,780 and $95,270 a year.

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Elementary School Teachers who work in California, New York, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.

How much do Elementary School Teachers make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $49,850
Alaska $74,070
Arizona $44,430
Arkansas $48,560
California $80,100
Colorado $53,400
Connecticut $75,480
Delaware $63,040
District of Columbia $79,480
Florida $50,070
Georgia $56,360
Hawaii $61,240
Idaho $48,990
Illinois $62,140
Indiana $52,360
Iowa $54,500
Kansas $51,020
Kentucky $53,830
Louisiana $48,740
Maine $53,570
Maryland $71,060
Massachusetts $82,600
Michigan $66,180
Minnesota $64,950
Mississippi $43,860
Missouri $49,860
Montana $52,360
Nebraska $57,490
Nevada $56,970
New Hampshire $58,230
New Jersey $70,660
New Mexico $55,390
New York $83,010
North Carolina $46,500
North Dakota $55,860
Ohio $62,430
Oklahoma $40,450
Oregon $67,910
Pennsylvania $66,860
Rhode Island $71,990
South Carolina $51,240
South Dakota $43,140
Tennessee $52,610
Texas $56,520
Utah $59,880
Vermont $62,430
Virginia $67,610
Washington $65,180
West Virginia $44,890
Wisconsin $56,770
Wyoming $58,940

What Tools & Technology do Elementary School Teachers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Elementary School Teachers may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Email software
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Graphics software
  • Blackboard
  • Children’s educational software

How to Become an Elementary School Teacher

What education or degrees do I need to become an Elementary School Teacher?

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Who Employs Elementary School Teachers?

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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Similar Careers

Those interested in being an Elementary School Teacher may also be interested in:

References:

Image Credit: Vgrigas via Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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