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

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations out-earn Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations by $8K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations land at $72,040 and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations at $63,970. The education gap is real: secondary 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 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations is Washington ($102,670); for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations it's Washington ($102,350).

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

Pay by state

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

State
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Washington
$102,670
$102,350
California
$101,370
$99,650
New York
$97,070
$85,760
Massachusetts
$95,260
$94,000
Rhode Island
$92,610
$90,930
District of Columbia
$82,750
$96,580
New Jersey
$82,200
$78,200
Connecticut
$80,970
$80,600
Alaska
$79,650
$79,260
Oregon
$79,570
$77,130
Ohio
$78,800
$77,370
Pennsylvania
$78,800
$77,060
Maryland
$78,670
$77,680
Delaware
$77,960
$75,920
Minnesota
$76,460
$76,350

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

Common questions

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

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

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

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education has the better 10-year outlook at 1% projected growth, compared to 1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

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

Secondary 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 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations at $102,670/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Secondary 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, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations earn $102,670 vs. $102,350 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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