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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Elementary School Teacher expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $67,865, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $47,505 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
Elementary School Teacher falls within the Education sector, specifically in Education. The typical education path involves Bachelor's in education. The career outlook? Steady. Work style is school-based — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
$73,666 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Elementary School Teacher in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $126,321 — $73,666 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($52,655). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The three-tier salary picture for Elementary School Teachers in 2026: $48,863 at entry (P10), $67,865 at midpoint, and $96,368 at the senior end (P90). State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The $47,505 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $12,502 below the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $119,572 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $53,950 (average of the bottom 3). That $65,622 delta is real money — $5,469/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Elementary School Teacher in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $126,321 — $73,666 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($52,655). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Elementary School Teacher is $48,863, while senior-level (P90) earners average $96,368. That $47,505 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Elementary School Teachers at $86,209 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $70,801) is $15,408.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $48,863 | $67,865 | $96,368 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £26,380 | £36,639 | £52,027 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$48,275 | CA$67,049 | CA$95,209 |
| Australia | 13 | A$56,868 | A$78,984 | A$112,157 |
| Sweden | 24 | 314,094 kr | 436,242 kr | 619,464 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $62,070 | $86,209 | $122,417 |
| California | 61 | $55,768 | $77,456 | $109,987 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $53,762 | $74,669 | $106,030 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $52,352 | $72,711 | $103,250 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $50,977 | $70,801 | $100,537 |
| Washington | 8 | $49,957 | $69,384 | $98,526 |
| Oregon | 5 | $49,400 | $68,611 | $97,427 |
| Colorado | 11 | $49,139 | $68,249 | $96,913 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $49,112 | $68,212 | $96,860 |
| New York | 5 | $48,877 | $67,885 | $96,396 |
| Illinois | 5 | $48,767 | $67,732 | $96,179 |
| Nevada | 5 | $48,208 | $66,955 | $95,076 |
| Virginia | 7 | $48,180 | $66,917 | $95,022 |
| Idaho | 3 | $48,180 | $66,917 | $95,022 |
| Utah | 4 | $47,779 | $66,360 | $94,231 |
| Florida | 22 | $47,734 | $66,298 | $94,143 |
| Arizona | 12 | $47,687 | $66,233 | $94,050 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $47,630 | $66,153 | $93,937 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $47,080 | $65,389 | $92,852 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $46,759 | $64,944 | $92,220 |
| Michigan | 6 | $46,706 | $64,869 | $92,114 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $46,683 | $64,837 | $92,069 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $46,585 | $64,701 | $91,876 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $45,842 | $63,670 | $90,411 |
| Alaska | 1 | $45,842 | $63,670 | $90,411 |
| Iowa | 2 | $45,842 | $63,670 | $90,411 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $45,842 | $63,670 | $90,411 |
| Montana | 1 | $45,842 | $63,670 | $90,411 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $45,215 | $62,800 | $89,175 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $45,155 | $62,715 | $89,055 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $45,149 | $62,708 | $89,045 |
| Texas | 40 | $45,088 | $62,623 | $88,924 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $44,937 | $62,413 | $88,626 |
| Georgia | 6 | $44,811 | $62,238 | $88,377 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $44,753 | $62,158 | $88,264 |
| Indiana | 3 | $44,635 | $61,993 | $88,030 |
| Alabama | 5 | $44,137 | $61,302 | $87,048 |
| Ohio | 6 | $44,039 | $61,166 | $86,855 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $44,009 | $61,123 | $86,795 |
| Maryland | 1 | $43,963 | $61,060 | $86,705 |
| Missouri | 4 | $43,928 | $61,012 | $86,637 |
| Kansas | 4 | $43,825 | $60,869 | $86,433 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $43,642 | $60,614 | $86,072 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $43,413 | $60,296 | $85,620 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $40,617 | $56,412 | $80,105 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $38,737 | $53,801 | $76,397 |
Geography shapes Elementary School Teacher pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. Hawaii tops the state leaderboard at $86,209 median, with 1 cities providing data. California and Massachusetts follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Arkansas anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($126,321 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $63,798 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $93,277 | 146 | $63,888 | $58,162 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $126,321 | 198 | $63,798 | $76,497 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $96,333 | 151 | $63,797 | $64,047 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $107,793 | 169 | $63,783 | $66,298 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $112,887 | 177 | $63,778 | $69,102 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $117,344 | 184 | $63,774 | $71,555 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $107,730 | 169 | $63,746 | $80,591 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $102,445 | 161 | $63,630 | $63,353 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $93,531 | 147 | $63,627 | $58,306 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $92,895 | 146 | $63,627 | $57,944 |
Career economics for Elementary School Teachers: entry level averages $48,863, mid-career hits $67,865, and experienced professionals reach $96,368. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's in education, and the work is school-based. The outlook: steady. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The weighted national median salary for Elementary School Teachers is $67,865 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $48,863, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $96,368.
The highest-paying city for Elementary School Teachers is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $126,321. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($126,321), Irvine ($117,344), San Francisco ($115,052). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Elementary School Teacher salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $52,655. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Elementary School Teachers (10th percentile) average $48,863 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $90,951. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Elementary School Teachers average $96,368 nationally — $47,505 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Elementary School Teachers can earn up to $179,376.
The top-paying states for Elementary School Teachers are Hawaii ($86,209 median), California ($77,456 median), Massachusetts ($74,669 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Elementary School Teacher involves Bachelor's in education. The field is in the Education sector (Education), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically school-based.
With a national median of $67,865 and representation across 288 metro areas, Elementary School Teacher offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $47,505 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.