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Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education vs. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: Who Earns More?

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education out-earn Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education by $8K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education land at $63,970 and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education at $72,040. The education gap is real: elementary school teachers, except special education programs typically require bachelor's degree, while secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education is Washington ($102,350); for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education it's Washington ($102,670).

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median salary
$63,970
$72,040
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$47,960
$48,780
Senior level (90th %)
$104,340
$107,600
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
1,388,390
1,065,210
Job growth (10-year)
-2%
-1.6%
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
Washington
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education median pay.

State
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Washington
$102,350
$102,670
California
$99,650
$101,370
District of Columbia
$96,580
$82,750
Massachusetts
$94,000
$95,260
Rhode Island
$90,930
$92,610
New York
$85,760
$97,070
Connecticut
$80,600
$80,970
Alaska
$79,260
$79,650
New Jersey
$78,200
$82,200
Maryland
$77,680
$78,670
Ohio
$77,370
$78,800
Oregon
$77,130
$79,570
Pennsylvania
$77,060
$78,800
Delaware
$75,920
$77,960
Illinois
$75,320
$79,990

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education or Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn more nationally. The median is $63,970 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education versus $72,040 for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, a difference of $8K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education or Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education has the better 10-year outlook at -1.6% projected growth, compared to -2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education or Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education typically requires bachelor's degree. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education at $102,350/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education vs. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn $102,350 vs. $102,670 for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary breakdownView →Full Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary breakdownView →Best cities for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education by take-home payExplore →How to become a elementary school teachers, except special educationGuide →How to become a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educationGuide →