Primary School Teacher Salary in the United States

How much does a Primary School Teacher make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Primary School Teacher in the United States is $60,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, a Primary School Teacher's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,510
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,600 to $68,500
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,224
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
Smart Recruiting
View as table View as graph 25% $51,600 10% $43,224 90% $75,510 75% $68,500 $60,800 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Primary School Teacher Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $68,500 $5,708 $1,317 $33
Average $60,800 $5,067 $1,169 $29
25th Percentile $51,600 $4,300 $992 $25
Check out Primary School Teacher Job Openings in the United States
Crossing Guard

Ohio Department of Education - Dayton, OH

Bus Driver School

Bedford Heights Daycare Center - Bedford, OH

Before and After School Teacher and Shuttle Driver

Queen City - Cincinnati, OH

School Age Teacher

CWCC Inc - Springfield, OH

Search More Primary School Teacher Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Primary School Teacher Salaries

A Primary School Teacher's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Primary School Teacher Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Primary School Teacher's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $57,779
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $58,054
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $61,375
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $64,593
  • Expert (over 8 years): $64,822
Levels Salary
Entry Level Primary School Teacher$57,779
Intermediate Level Primary School Teacher$58,054
Senior Level Primary School Teacher$61,375
Specialist Level Primary School Teacher$64,593
Expert Level Primary School Teacher$64,822
$57,779 0 yr
$58,054 < 2 yrs
$61,375 2-4 yrs
$64,593 5-8 yrs
$64,822 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Primary School Teachers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $76,700
  • San Francisco: $75,900
  • Oakland: $74,300

What Skills Can Increase a Primary School Teacher's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Confidentiality (Mentioned in 7.14% Job Postings): The process of and obligation to apply and enforce rules and practices that ensure that specific types of information are accessible only to those authorized to use it.
  • Adult Learning (Mentioned in 3.57% Job Postings): Adult education is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained self-educating activities in order to gain new forms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values.
  • Early Childhood Education (Mentioned in 3.57% Job Postings): Early childhood education, also known as nursery education, is a branch of education theory that relates to the teaching of children from birth up to the age of eight.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Confidentiality 7.14%
Adult Learning 3.57%
Early Childhood Education 3.57%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Primary School Teacher's salary.
  • Adult Learning: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Human Relations: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Spring: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Adult Learning
$67,488
11%
Human Relations
$63,840
5%
Spring
$63,232
4%
Coaching
$62,624
3%
Collective Bargaining
$62,624
3%
Written Communication
$62,016
2%
Get Latest Data

Primary School Teacher Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Primary School Teacher's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Primary School Teacher

Salaries for a Primary School Teacher can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,558 in 2023 to around $53,357 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Primary School Teacher salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Primary School Teacher Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$54,558
2024
$53,790
2025
$53,357
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $54,558
2024 $53,790
2025 $53,357
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Primary School Teacher

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Primary School Teacher

Here are companies hiring for Primary School Teacher and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Primary School Teacher Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Primary School Teacher job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Primary School Teacher

1. Which government job has the highest salary?

The salary for a Primary School Teacher ranges from ₹54,600 to ₹80,300, with a mid-range salary of ₹66,500. While this is a respectable income, it may not be among the highest paying government jobs in India, such as those in the Indian Civil Services, which can exceed ₹2,25,000 per month.

2. What type of teacher pays the most?

The highest paying teaching positions typically include School Principals, with an average salary of around $129,000 per year, followed by University or College Administrators at approximately $82,000. For Primary School Teachers, salaries range from $54,600 to $80,300, with a mid-salary of $66,500, making it a rewarding career within the education sector.

3. Do teachers get paid well in the US?

In the 2021–22 school year, the average salary for a primary school teacher ranged from $54,600 to $80,300, with a mid-salary of $66,500. While this may seem competitive, actual compensation varies significantly based on location and cost of living, affecting how well teachers are paid across different regions in the US.

4. Where are primary teachers best paid?

Primary teachers are best paid in countries like Luxembourg, where salaries can reach up to $80,300. In Switzerland, the average salary is around $66,500, while Germany also offers competitive pay. In general, primary school teachers earn between $54,600 and $80,300, depending on the country and experience level.

5. What is the highest paying job in the world?

While being a CEO is often considered the highest paying job globally, a Primary School Teacher earns a salary ranging from $54,600 to $80,300, with a mid-salary of $66,500. Although teaching may not be the top-paying profession, it plays a crucial role in shaping future generations and offers a rewarding experience.

6. How much does teacher salary increase per year?

In California and Washington, substantial increases in state funding to school districts have led to significant pay raises for teachers. For Primary School Teachers, salaries range from $54,600 to $80,300, with a mid-salary of $66,500. This reflects the ongoing trend of salary increases, which were around 6.5% in California and 6.7% in Washington for the 2022-2023 school year.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst