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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 $73,102, 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 $64,330 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.
$81,270 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Elementary School Teacher in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $133,560 — $81,270 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($52,290). 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: $43,861 at entry (P10), $73,102 at midpoint, and $108,191 at the senior end (P90). State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The $64,330 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $7,265 below the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $124,740 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $52,710 (average of the bottom 3). That $72,030 delta is real money — $6,003/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 Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $133,560 — $81,270 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($52,290). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Elementary School Teacher is $43,861, while senior-level (P90) earners average $108,191. That $64,330 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $43,861 | $73,102 | $108,191 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £27,297 | £37,912 | £53,835 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$50,764 | CA$70,505 | CA$100,117 |
| Australia | 13 | A$60,197 | A$83,607 | A$118,722 |
| Sweden | 24 | 325,045 kr | 451,451 kr | 641,061 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $53,100 | $88,500 | $130,979 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $51,314 | $85,523 | $126,573 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $51,030 | $85,050 | $125,874 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $47,250 | $78,750 | $116,550 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $46,683 | $77,805 | $115,151 |
| Washington | 8 | $45,785 | $76,309 | $112,937 |
| New York | 5 | $43,092 | $71,820 | $106,293 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $43,092 | $71,820 | $106,294 |
| Florida | 22 | $42,766 | $71,276 | $105,488 |
| Colorado | 11 | $42,027 | $70,045 | $103,666 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $41,958 | $69,930 | $103,496 |
| Nevada | 5 | $41,882 | $69,804 | $103,310 |
| Arizona | 12 | $41,675 | $69,458 | $102,797 |
| Oregon | 5 | $41,580 | $69,300 | $102,564 |
| Idaho | 3 | $41,454 | $69,090 | $102,253 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $41,126 | $68,544 | $101,445 |
| Utah | 4 | $41,013 | $68,355 | $101,165 |
| Virginia | 7 | $40,338 | $67,230 | $99,500 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $39,816 | $66,360 | $98,213 |
| Alaska | 1 | $39,690 | $66,150 | $97,902 |
| Illinois | 5 | $39,236 | $65,394 | $96,783 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $38,262 | $63,770 | $94,380 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $37,800 | $63,000 | $93,240 |
| Montana | 1 | $37,800 | $63,000 | $93,240 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $37,674 | $62,790 | $92,929 |
| Texas | 40 | $37,488 | $62,480 | $92,471 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $37,422 | $62,370 | $92,308 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $37,233 | $62,055 | $91,842 |
| Georgia | 6 | $37,107 | $61,845 | $91,531 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $37,044 | $61,740 | $91,375 |
| Kansas | 4 | $36,855 | $61,425 | $90,909 |
| Michigan | 6 | $36,729 | $61,215 | $90,598 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $36,288 | $60,480 | $89,511 |
| Maryland | 1 | $36,288 | $60,480 | $89,510 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $35,910 | $59,850 | $88,578 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $35,910 | $59,850 | $88,578 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $34,965 | $58,275 | $86,247 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $34,776 | $57,960 | $85,781 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $34,304 | $57,173 | $84,615 |
| Missouri | 4 | $34,304 | $57,173 | $84,616 |
| Alabama | 5 | $34,171 | $56,952 | $84,289 |
| Indiana | 3 | $33,642 | $56,070 | $82,984 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $33,642 | $56,070 | $82,984 |
| Iowa | 2 | $33,264 | $55,440 | $82,051 |
| Ohio | 6 | $33,201 | $55,335 | $81,896 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $31,752 | $52,920 | $78,322 |
Geography shapes Elementary School Teacher pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $88,500 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio 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. Sunnyvale ($133,560 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $63,000 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 | Sunnyvale California | $133,560 | 212 | $63,000 | $80,482 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $124,740 | 198 | $63,000 | $75,627 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $115,920 | 184 | $63,000 | $70,771 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $114,030 | 181 | $63,000 | $69,731 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $112,140 | 178 | $63,000 | $68,691 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $111,510 | 177 | $63,000 | $68,344 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $111,510 | 177 | $63,000 | $68,344 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $108,990 | 173 | $63,000 | $66,956 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $108,990 | 173 | $63,000 | $66,956 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $106,470 | 169 | $63,000 | $65,569 |
Career economics for Elementary School Teachers: entry level averages $43,861, mid-career hits $73,102, and experienced professionals reach $108,191. That's a 2.5× 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 $73,102 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $43,861, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $108,191.
The highest-paying city for Elementary School Teachers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $133,560. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($133,560), Santa Clara ($124,740), Irvine ($115,920). 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 $52,290. 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 $43,861 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $80,136. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Elementary School Teachers average $108,191 nationally — $64,330 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Elementary School Teachers can earn up to $197,669.
The top-paying states for Elementary School Teachers are California ($88,500 median), Massachusetts ($85,523 median), Hawaii ($85,050 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 $73,102 and representation across 288 metro areas, Elementary School Teacher offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $64,330 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.