Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: Career Overview
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
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What Do Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Take On?
Typical responsibilities of elementary school teachers, except special education include:
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Read books to entire classes or small groups.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top elementary school teachers, except special education combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Art Educator
- Art Instructor
- Art Teacher
- Band Teacher
- Bilingual Instructor
- Bilingual Teacher
- Choir Teacher
- Classroom Teacher
How Many Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Are There?
The U.S. employs around 80,188 elementary school teachers, except special education working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +4.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $75,366 |
| Hourly median | $36.23 |
| 10th percentile | $46,747 |
| 25th percentile | $61,057 |
| 75th percentile | $89,676 |
| 90th percentile | $103,986 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $99,110 |
| California | $98,190 |
| District of Columbia | $94,730 |
| Rhode Island | $86,900 |
| Massachusetts | $83,260 |
| New York | $82,480 |
| Connecticut | $78,740 |
| New Jersey | $77,150 |
| Alaska | $76,290 |
| Oregon | $75,800 |
| Maryland | $74,720 |
| Pennsylvania | $74,160 |
| Delaware | $66,390 |
| New Mexico | $65,510 |
| Ohio | $65,380 |
| New Hampshire | $64,430 |
| Illinois | $64,160 |
| Georgia | $63,490 |
| Minnesota | $63,120 |
| Nevada | $62,420 |
| Michigan | $62,350 |
| Maine | $62,300 |
| Virginia | $62,270 |
| Utah | $61,710 |
| Nebraska | $61,700 |
| Wyoming | $61,560 |
| Colorado | $61,550 |
| Texas | $61,380 |
| Vermont | $61,270 |
| Wisconsin | $60,690 |
| Hawaii | $60,420 |
| Alabama | $59,850 |
| Idaho | $59,620 |
| South Carolina | $59,370 |
| Indiana | $58,370 |
| Kentucky | $57,980 |
| North Dakota | $57,820 |
| Montana | $56,200 |
| Florida | $55,550 |
| West Virginia | $55,550 |
| Iowa | $55,540 |
| Tennessee | $52,690 |
| Louisiana | $52,280 |
| Arizona | $50,980 |
| Kansas | $50,820 |
| Arkansas | $50,550 |
| Virgin Islands | $50,530 |
| North Carolina | $49,400 |
| South Dakota | $49,110 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,690 |
| Mississippi | $48,440 |
| Missouri | $48,250 |
| Oklahoma | $47,470 |
| Guam | $30,810 |
Where Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Earn the Most
Earnings for elementary school teachers, except special education vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $93,854 | 14.6% | 0.87 |
| Middle Atlantic | $78,741 | 16.6% | 1.12 |
| New England | $77,823 | 4.8% | 1.02 |
| Great Lakes | $62,872 | 14.6% | 1.03 |
| Rocky Mountains | $60,882 | 4.0% | 1.00 |
| Southwest | $58,694 | 12.4% | 0.99 |
| Southeast | $56,219 | 24.5% | 1.00 |
| Plains States | $54,288 | 8.0% | 1.21 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $103,580 | 550 |
| El Centro, CA | CA | $101,960 | 760 |
| Visalia, CA | CA | $101,340 | 2,520 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $101,300 | 1,730 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $101,170 | 1,030 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $100,620 | 1,020 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $100,580 | 42,880 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $100,430 | 2,370 |
Which Industries Hire Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Most elementary school teachers, except special education are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 1,388,940 | n/a |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 2,020 | n/a |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,710 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for elementary school teachers, except special education tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Physical Proximity
Education and Training
Most elementary school teachers, except special education positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (Supplemental)
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (Primary-Short)
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Primary-Short)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School (Supplemental)
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Aspiring elementary school teachers, except special education often complete programs in:
Education
14 programs across 4 majors
- Teacher Education Grade Specific
- Teaching English or French
- Multilingual Education
- Teacher Education Subject Specific
Social Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-2021.00 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education).