Preschool, Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Special Education Teachers

How to become an Elementary School Teacher

Official title: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

Also called: Art Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Elementary Classroom Teacher, Elementary School Teacher, Elementary Teacher, Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher), Music Teacher, Primary Teacher, Reading Teacher, Teacher

Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Kindergarten and elementary school teachers usually must have at least a bachelor's degree. In addition, public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or license.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Elementary School Teacher (Nof).
College: Education & Teaching degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 47 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $63,970 a year The middle half earn $57,710 to $81,450.
About 1,419,300 people work in this job now, and about 1,413,400 are projected by 2035. (-0.4%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Elementary School Teacher?

Kindergarten and elementary school teachers usually must have at least a bachelor's degree. In addition, public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or license.

How much does an Elementary School Teacher earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $63,970 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $57,710 to $81,450.

Is an Elementary School Teacher a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 1,419,300 people now and 1,413,400 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

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

Usually. 95% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Elementary School Teacher?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.