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Elementary School Teacher

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AVG. SALARY

$55,530

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EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What To Learn

High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Education and Training cluster Teaching/Training pathway.

Education Level

Education training and experience are required at different levels for success in different occupations.

Bachelor's degree

Public elementary school teachers typically need a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Private schools typically have the same requirement. In some states, public schools also require these teachers to major in a content area, such as mathematics.

Insider Info

Additional Information

You'll need at least a bachelor's degree in education plus a teaching certificate. A master's degree in education can lead to additional opportunities or higher salaries in some areas.

"Some teachers are secured through alternative programs that consider candidates from non-teaching areas (business, medical, etc.,)" says Leasa Codner. She's a teacher in Florida.

"Students should look for a program that mixes scholarly research on best practices (in areas such as classroom behavior management) with an abundance of varied hands-on and authentic learning experiences."

Teacher Steve Adnam says it's about more than academics. "I think training in special education, classroom management and mental health are all very important," he says.

"To increase your marketability, I recommend specializing in a high-demand subject area," says Julie F. She teaches Grades 1 and 2. "For instance, physics, learning assistance, music and early literacy are specialties that are in higher demand than subjects such as physical education and social studies."

Some universities want you to have an undergraduate degree before you enrol in an education program. Be sure to check admission requirements. In some areas, teachers must also complete a certain number of professional development hours. You should be prepared to attend workshops and complete additional courses.

Extra Requirements

All states require teachers in public schools to be licensed or certified in the specific grade level that they will teach. Those who teach in private schools are generally not required to be licensed. For information on certification requirements in your state, visit Teach.org.

For additional information, visit these websites:

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support