Kindergarten and elementary school teachers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers in the United States earn a median salary of $63,970 per year — about $31 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 1.5M people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -2%.
AI & Automation Risk
AI will significantly automate back-end knowledge work such as lesson planning, grading, and administrative communication, which currently occupy a large portion of a teacher's time. However, the core of the role involves physical supervision, emotional support, and real-time behavioral management of young children, which creates a substantial barrier to full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walla Walla, WABEST VALUE | $102,980 | Average (97.9) | $105,161 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $100,380 | Average (98.9) | $101,512 |
| Merced, CA | $100,120 | Average (99.6) | $100,504 |
| Yakima, WA | $98,330 | Average (97.9) | $100,437 |
| El Centro, CA | $100,390 | Average (100.2) | $100,239 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $98,470 | Average (98.6) | $99,892 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $100,340 | Average (101.9) | $98,462 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $104,650 | Above avg (106.4) | $98,392 |
| Kingston, NY | $97,920 | Average (99.6) | $98,339 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $98,800 | Average (100.9) | $97,894 |
| Bellingham, WA | $101,230 | Above avg (104.0) | $97,325 |
| Visalia, CA | $98,430 | Average (101.5) | $96,994 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,640 | Above avg (105.1) | $96,683 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $102,650 | Above avg (107.4) | $95,559 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $100,730 | Above avg (105.9) | $95,127 |
Education & Requirements
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