The average salary for an elementary school teacher in California is around $99,650 per year.
Avg Salary
Elementary school teachers earn an average yearly salary of $99,650.
Wages typically start from $61,940 and go up to $127,070.
18% above national average Updated in 2025
Elementary school teacher earnings by seniority
Top-level elementary school teacher earnings begin at:
$61.09 per hour
$127,070 per year
Senior-level elementary school teacher earnings begin at:
$57.68 per hour
$119,970 per year
Mid-level elementary school teacher earnings begin at:
$47.91 per hour
$99,650 per year
Junior-level elementary school teacher earnings begin at:
$37.09 per hour
$77,140 per year
Starting level elementary school teacher earnings begin at:
$29.78 per hour
$61,940 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Elementary school teacher salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $99,650 |
| District of Columbia | $96,580 |
| Massachusetts | $94,000 |
| Rhode Island | $90,930 |
| New York | $85,760 |
| Connecticut | $80,600 |
| Alaska | $79,260 |
| New Jersey | $78,200 |
| Maryland | $77,680 |
| Ohio | $77,370 |
| Oregon | $77,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,060 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 |
| Delaware | $75,920 |
| Illinois | $75,320 |
| Utah | $74,810 |
| New Mexico | $74,550 |
| New Hampshire | $72,410 |
| Georgia | $72,290 |
| Hawaii | $71,410 |
| Virginia | $65,550 |
| Michigan | $65,110 |
| Nevada | $65,040 |
| Colorado | $63,410 |
| Vermont | $63,070 |
| Texas | $62,760 |
| Maine | $62,390 |
| Nebraska | $62,380 |
| Idaho | $61,600 |
| Alabama | $61,380 |
| Wisconsin | $61,210 |
| Wyoming | $61,150 |
| South Carolina | $60,820 |
| Kentucky | $60,610 |
| Iowa | $60,580 |
| North Dakota | $60,030 |
| Tennessee | $59,980 |
| Indiana | $59,700 |
| Florida | $58,930 |
| Louisiana | $58,770 |
| Montana | $57,530 |
| Arizona | $56,590 |
| Kansas | $56,450 |
| West Virginia | $55,630 |
| North Carolina | $54,930 |
| Arkansas | $52,700 |
| Missouri | $50,910 |
| Guam | $50,150 |
| South Dakota | $50,130 |
| Mississippi | $49,790 |
| Oklahoma | $48,200 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $41,220 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,760 |
| Washington | $102,350 |
How much does an Elementary School Teacher earn?
While elementary school teachers’ wages should perhaps be higher than they are, many teachers are making a comfortable salary, depending on where they live. Urban areas tend to offer higher elementary school salaries, but the cost of living is also higher. While you may earn less in a rural area, you’ll probably spend less for rent, food, gas, and other expenses. The highest paid in the elementary school teacher profession work in the metropolitan areas of Fairbanks, Alaska, Poughkeepsie, New York, and New York City. The Kingston, New York area also pays well, as does the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts.
How do elementary school teacher salaries compare to similar careers?
Elementary school teachers earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than music teachers but more than clergies.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Music teacher salary | $99K |
| Professor salary | $112K |
| Distance learning coordinator salary | $100K |
| High school teacher salary | $101K |
| Nurse educator salary | $82K |
| Elementary school teacher salary | $100K |
| School counselor salary | $86K |
| Librarian salary | $90K |
| Kindergarten teacher salary | $83K |
| Clergy salary | $78K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)