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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CABEST VALUE | $100,390 | Below avg (95.2) | $105,480 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $102,980 | Average (98.5) | $104,528 |
| Yakima, WA | $98,330 | Below avg (95.5) | $102,915 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $100,320 | Average (98.4) | $102,002 |
| Merced, CA | $100,120 | Average (98.3) | $101,877 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $104,650 | Above avg (103.7) | $100,945 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $100,380 | Average (100.1) | $100,301 |
| Visalia, CA | $98,430 | Average (99.8) | $98,603 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $98,800 | Average (100.3) | $98,459 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $100,730 | Average (102.4) | $98,328 |
| Bellingham, WA | $101,230 | Above avg (103.3) | $97,964 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,640 | Above avg (104.1) | $97,629 |
| Kingston, NY | $97,920 | Average (100.7) | $97,231 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $102,650 | Above avg (105.6) | $97,200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $103,390 | Above avg (106.7) | $96,925 |
Education & Requirements
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