Elementary School Teachers
Overview
Introduction
Elementary school teachers instruct students from the first through sixth or eighth grades. They develop teaching outlines and lesson plans, give lectures, facilitate discussions and activities, keep class attendance records, assign homework, and evaluate student progress. Most teachers work with one group of children throughout the day, teaching several subjects and supervising such activities as lunch and recess. Nearly 1.6 million elementary school teachers (excluding those who specialize in special education) are employed in the...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
The mean annual salary for elementary school teachers (not including those who specialized in special education) was $63,680 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The lowest 10 percent earned $46,960 or less; the highest 10 percent earned $104,440 or more. Elementary school special education teachers earned salaries that ranged from $47,710 to $103,430 or more. Private school ...
Work Environment
Most teachers are contracted to work 10 months out of the year, with a two-month vacation during the summer. During their summer break, many continue their education to renew or upgrade their teaching licenses and earn higher salaries. Teachers in schools that operate year-round work eight-week sessions with one-week breaks in between and a five-week vacation in the winter.
Teachers work...
Outlook
Employment opportunities for elementary school teachers are expected to decline by 1 percent from 2023 to 2033, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Despite this prediction, there will continue to be good demand for teachers because of the need to replace retiring teachers or those who leave the field for other careers.
Inner-city schools characterized by poor working...