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

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education out-earn Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education by $400 a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education land at $64,370 and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education at $63,970. The education gap is real: middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education programs typically require bachelor's degree, while elementary school teachers, except special education programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education is Washington ($102,140); for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education it's Washington ($102,350).

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Median salary
$64,370
$63,970
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$48,080
$47,960
Senior level (90th %)
$102,540
$104,340
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
620,090
1,388,390
Job growth (10-year)
-2%
-2%
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
Washington
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education median pay.

State
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Washington
$102,140
$102,350
California
$98,950
$99,650
New York
$94,840
$85,760
Connecticut
$93,610
$80,600
Rhode Island
$92,760
$90,930
Massachusetts
$89,450
$94,000
District of Columbia
$79,900
$96,580
Alaska
$78,940
$79,260
New Jersey
$78,770
$78,200
Maryland
$78,510
$77,680
Oregon
$78,350
$77,130
Pennsylvania
$77,930
$77,060
Ohio
$77,090
$77,370
Delaware
$67,780
$75,920
Minnesota
$62,640
$76,350

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

Common questions

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

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn more nationally. The median is $64,370 for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education versus $63,970 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, a difference of $400. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

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

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

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical 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 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education at $102,140/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn $102,140 vs. $102,350 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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