Careers · Explore one path
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
Other titles employers use
Art Teacher · Classroom Teacher · Elementary Classroom Teacher · Elementary School Teacher · Elementary Teacher · Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher) · Music Teacher · Primary Teacher
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, creative and organizing work.
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Subjects to know
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.9 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.2 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.2 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 78%
- A master's degree 22%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Document management software
- Computer based training software
- Multi-media educational software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 164,300
- Job openings each year
- 12,130
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 12.4%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 164,300 | 12,130 | 12.4% |
| California | 157,800 | 10,900 | 4.1% |
| New York | 112,670 | 1,730 | 18.2% |
| Florida | 74,600 | 5,500 | 12.2% |
| Illinois | 59,900 | 4,080 | 2.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 54,870 | 3,670 | — |
| Georgia | 50,920 | 3,690 | 9.9% |
| Ohio | 48,510 | 3,280 | 1.8% |
| North Carolina | 43,970 | 3,140 | 7.8% |
| Washington | 37,380 | 3,250 | 13.3% |
| Michigan | 36,530 | 2,440 | — |
| Virginia | 35,980 | 2,390 | — |
| Maryland | 34,470 | 2,510 | 10.6% |
| Wisconsin | 33,290 | 2,310 | 4.6% |
| Missouri | 32,350 | 2,210 | 2.6% |
| Colorado | 32,000 | 2,420 | 15.7% |
| Tennessee | 31,450 | 2,370 | 15.2% |
| Indiana | 27,860 | 1,890 | 2.2% |
| Alabama | 25,970 | 1,810 | 5.2% |
| Minnesota | 25,320 | 1,740 | 3.8% |
| Arizona | 25,170 | 1,730 | 3.5% |
| South Carolina | 24,090 | 1,730 | 8.5% |
| Louisiana | 21,100 | 1,450 | 3.4% |
| Iowa | 20,110 | 1,420 | 6.2% |
| Connecticut | 17,430 | 1,230 | 6.5% |
| Utah | 17,230 | 1,320 | 18.6% |
| Kentucky | 17,160 | 1,150 | 1.2% |
| Oklahoma | 16,200 | 1,130 | 5.5% |
| Kansas | 15,480 | 1,050 | 2.6% |
| Oregon | 14,570 | 990 | 2.5% |
| Mississippi | 13,030 | 900 | 4.2% |
| Arkansas | 12,200 | 830 | 2.8% |
| Nevada | 11,760 | 820 | 5.6% |
| Massachusetts | 11,680 | 840 | 9.5% |
| Nebraska | 9,840 | 680 | 3.7% |
| Idaho | 9,410 | 710 | 14.5% |
| New Mexico | 7,960 | 560 | 5.9% |
| Maine | 6,330 | 420 | — |
| New Hampshire | 5,980 | 400 | — |
| Delaware | 5,200 | 380 | 10.6% |
| West Virginia | 5,070 | 350 | 3.3% |
| South Dakota | 4,760 | 330 | 5.8% |
| Montana | 4,720 | 330 | 5.6% |
| North Dakota | 4,720 | 340 | 8.0% |
| Rhode Island | 4,430 | 300 | 1.1% |
| Vermont | 3,560 | 250 | 3.8% |
| District of Columbia | 3,540 | 250 | 6.3% |
| Wyoming | 2,900 | 210 | 10.3% |
| Alaska | 2,130 | 140 | — |
| Virgin Islands | 1,060 | 70 | −7.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 1,777
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 604
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Illinois State University
- Degrees each year
- 636
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 556
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
University of Northern Iowa
- Degrees each year
- 576
- Admit rate
- 94%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
University of Central Florida
- Degrees each year
- 524
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
California State University-Sacramento
- Degrees each year
- 471
- Admit rate
- 94%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
California State University-Los Angeles
- Degrees each year
- 426
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $5,000