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Elementary school teachers

How to become an Elementary School Teacher

Also called: Primary School Teacher, Primary School Nutrition Teacher, Primary School Health Teacher

Takes charge of one class at a primary school, teaching every subject and guiding the children.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

You can get a primary school teacher's licence by earning the required credits at a university or similar. As a rule, earning the credits includes a teaching placement at a primary school. You must then pass a teacher recruitment exam run by a prefectural or designated city board of education, or a private school's recruitment exam. The first stage of the recruitment exam is mainly written and practical tests, and the second stage is an interview. Those who pass are placed on a list of candidates and hired according to the number of teachers needed that year. Some teachers are hired temporarily to cover teachers on leave for childbirth, childcare, illness or other reasons, but only for the length of that leave. Primary school teachers need an understanding of primary education as a whole, specialist knowledge and skills in each subject, and understanding of and responsibility for their students. After being hired, it is important to keep improving your knowledge and teaching skills through regular training. To be promoted to deputy principal (vice principal) or principal, you must pass a selection exam. You can also become a supervisor or management officer at a prefectural or municipal board of education, but this too requires passing a selection exam.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Elementary School Teacher?

You can get a primary school teacher's licence by earning the required credits at a university or similar. As a rule, earning the credits includes a teaching placement at a primary school. You must then pass a teacher recruitment exam run by a prefectural or designated city board of education, or a private school's recruitment exam. The first stage of the recruitment exam is mainly written and practical tests, and the second stage is an interview. Those who pass are placed on a list of candidates and hired according to the number of teachers needed that year. Some teachers are hired temporarily to cover teachers on leave for childbirth, childcare, illness or other reasons, but only for the length of that leave. Primary school teachers need an understanding of primary education as a whole, specialist knowledge and skills in each subject, and understanding of and responsibility for their students. After being hired, it is important to keep improving your knowledge and teaching skills through regular training. To be promoted to deputy principal (vice principal) or principal, you must pass a selection exam. You can also become a supervisor or management officer at a prefectural or municipal board of education, but this too requires passing a selection exam.

How much does an Elementary School Teacher earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥7,351,700 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Elementary and lower secondary school teachers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become an Elementary School Teacher?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 91% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of an Elementary School Teacher?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026