Elementary School Teachers, except Special Education: 1,388,390 jobs, median pay $63,970

1,388,390

Jobs in the U.S.

People employed, May 2025

$63,970

Median pay a year

Middle half: $57,710–$81,450

87,500

Annual openings

10-year change: −0.4%

2,425

LCA filings, last 4 quarters

−1.7% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 377 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $96,900 · LCA filings 6098,900$96,90060

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $78,390 · LCA filings 4845,840$78,39048

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $101,860 · LCA filings 3844,790$101,86038

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $64,500 · LCA filings 9230,980$64,50092

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $79,470 · LCA filings 10430,940$79,470104

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $65,070 · LCA filings 27427,350$65,070274

Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $78,570 · LCA filings 1723,380$78,57017

Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $76,570 · LCA filings 2823,370$76,57028

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $98,060 · LCA filings 2020,340$98,06020

Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $58,300 · LCA filings 819,910$58,3008

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings

Olympia–Lacey–Tumwater, WAEmployment 950 · LCA filings 0$104,6509500

Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CAEmployment 10,480 · LCA filings 8$103,39010,4808

Walla Walla, WAEmployment 220 · LCA filings 0$102,9802200

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 14,560 · LCA filings 6$102,92014,5606

San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 7,810 · LCA filings 28$102,8607,81028

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXEmployers with LCA filings 7 · Employment 27,350274727,350

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVEmployers with LCA filings 15 · Employment 30,9401041530,940

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXEmployers with LCA filings 14 · Employment 30,980921430,980

Savannah, GAEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 1,5708911,570

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COEmployers with LCA filings 7 · Employment 12,03081712,030

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $80,350 · Level III $96,240 · Level IV $112,130$64,460$80,350$96,240$112,130

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $65,940 · Level III $78,670 · Level IV $91,400$53,210$65,940$78,670$91,400

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $82,403 · Level III $97,997 · Level IV $113,590$66,810$82,403$97,997$113,590

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $56,667 · Level III $62,783 · Level IV $68,900$50,550$56,667$62,783$68,900

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $72,060 · Level III $84,250 · Level IV $96,440$59,870$72,060$84,250$96,440

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $60,843 · Level III $65,357 · Level IV $69,870$56,330$60,843$65,357$69,870

Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $67,557 · Level III $78,543 · Level IV $89,530$56,570$67,557$78,543$89,530

Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $65,603 · Level III $73,857 · Level IV $82,110$57,350$65,603$73,857$82,110

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $78,777 · Level III $91,463 · Level IV $104,150$66,090$78,777$91,463$104,150

Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $54,840 · Level III $59,500 · Level IV $64,160$50,180$54,840$59,500$64,160

Savannah, GALevel II $60,147 · Level III $67,033 · Level IV $73,920$53,260$60,147$67,033$73,920

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COLevel II $65,050 · Level III $74,850 · Level IV $84,650$55,250$65,050$74,850$84,650

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsCIP 13.12OPT · up to 12 months1,494OPT · up to 12 months

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesCIP 24.01 · Usually needs more educationOPT · up to 12 months11,783OPT · up to 12 months

See Elementary School Teachers, except Special Education in every metro area

All 377 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Related occupations · Education & Library

Teaching Assistants, except Postsecondary Preschool Teachers, except Special Education Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Secondary School Teachers, except Special and Career/Technical Education Self-Enrichment Teachers Middle School Teachers, except Special and Career/Technical Education Tutors Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology