1st Grade Teacher Salary in the United States

How much does a 1st Grade Teacher make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a 1st Grade Teacher in the United States is $64,150 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

However, a 1st Grade Teacher's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $80,548
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55,496 to $72,733
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,616
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View as table View as graph 25% $55,496 10% $47,616 90% $80,548 75% $72,733 $64,150 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

1st Grade Teacher Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $72,733 $6,061 $1,399 $35
Average $64,150 $5,346 $1,234 $31
25th Percentile $55,496 $4,625 $1,067 $27
Check out 1st Grade Teacher Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence 1st Grade Teacher Salaries

A 1st Grade 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 1st Grade Teacher Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a 1st Grade 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): $59,279
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $59,559
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $62,957
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $66,296
  • Expert (over 8 years): $66,534
Levels Salary
Entry Level 1st Grade Teacher$59,279
Intermediate Level 1st Grade Teacher$59,559
Senior Level 1st Grade Teacher$62,957
Specialist Level 1st Grade Teacher$66,296
Expert Level 1st Grade Teacher$66,534
$59,279 0 yr
$59,559 < 2 yrs
$62,957 2-4 yrs
$66,296 5-8 yrs
$66,534 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for 1st Grade 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: $80,912
  • San Francisco: $80,117
  • Oakland: $78,340

What Skills Can Increase a 1st Grade 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 1st Grade 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
$71,206
11%
Human Relations
$67,357
5%
Spring
$66,716
4%
Coaching
$66,074
3%
Collective Bargaining
$66,074
3%
Written Communication
$65,433
2%
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1st Grade Teacher Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a 1st Grade 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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for 1st Grade Teacher

Salaries for a 1st Grade Teacher can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $55,972 in 2023 to around $54,738 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of 1st Grade Teacher salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of 1st Grade Teacher Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$55,972
2024
$55,183
2025
$54,738
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $55,972
2024 $55,183
2025 $54,738
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for 1st Grade Teacher

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for 1st Grade Teacher

Here are companies hiring for 1st Grade Teacher and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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.)

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