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Salary comparison

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education vs. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: Who Earns More?

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations out-earn Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Educations by $1K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Educations land at $62,680 and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations at $63,970. The education gap is real: kindergarten teachers, except special education programs typically require bachelor's degree, while elementary school teachers, except special education programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Educations is Washington ($99,960); for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations it's Washington ($102,350).

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Median salary
$62,680
$63,970
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$46,990
$47,960
Senior level (90th %)
$101,830
$104,340
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
108,870
1,388,390
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
1%
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
Washington
Washington

Pay by state

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

State
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Washington
$99,960
$102,350
Connecticut
$90,030
$80,600
Rhode Island
$85,470
$90,930
Massachusetts
$84,100
$94,000
California
$82,550
$99,650
District of Columbia
$81,500
$96,580
New York
$77,630
$85,760
Maryland
$75,910
$77,680
Minnesota
$75,500
$76,350
New Jersey
$74,210
$78,200
Delaware
$74,030
$75,920
Ohio
$72,570
$77,370
Oregon
$68,580
$77,130
Pennsylvania
$64,430
$77,060
Illinois
$64,020
$75,320

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Educations or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations?

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations earn more nationally. The median is $62,680 for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Educations versus $63,970 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations, a difference of $1K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education 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 Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Educations get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Educations at $99,960/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education vs. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Educations earn $99,960 vs. $102,350 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary breakdownView →Full Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary breakdownView →Best cities for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Educations by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations by take-home payExplore →How to become a kindergarten teachers, except special educationGuide →How to become a elementary school teachers, except special educationGuide →