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Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary vs. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: Who Earns More?

Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary out-earn Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education by $21K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary land at $85,020 and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education at $63,970. The education gap is real: area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary programs typically require bachelor's degree, while elementary school teachers, except special education programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary is New Hampshire ($125,450); for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education it's Washington ($102,350).

Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Median salary
$85,020
$63,970
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$52,070
$47,960
Senior level (90th %)
$160,420
$104,340
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
11,300
1,388,390
Job growth (10-year)
2.4%
-2%
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
New Hampshire
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary median pay.

State
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
California
$105,220
$99,650
Rhode Island
$104,460
$90,930
New York
$101,800
$85,760
District of Columbia
$101,700
$96,580
Massachusetts
$100,470
$94,000
Connecticut
$99,900
$80,600
New Jersey
$97,500
$78,200
Pennsylvania
$96,010
$77,060
Maryland
$91,330
$77,680
Illinois
$90,030
$75,320
Alaska
$81,700
$79,260
Minnesota
$81,580
$76,350
Washington
$81,410
$102,350
Oregon
$80,310
$77,130
Ohio
$80,060
$77,370

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn more nationally. The median is $85,020 for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary versus $63,970 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, a difference of $21K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary has the better 10-year outlook at 2.4% projected growth, compared to -2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary typically requires bachelor's degree. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary get paid the most?

New Hampshire is the top-paying state for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary at $125,450/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary vs. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn $105,220 vs. $99,650 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary breakdownView →Full Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary breakdownView →Best cities for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education by take-home payExplore →How to become a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaryGuide →How to become a elementary school teachers, except special educationGuide →