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Elementary School Teacher vs Secondary Teacher

In 2025, the median salary for Secondary Teacher was $104 (0.1%) higher than for Elementary School Teacher: $118,166 against $118,063. Elementary School Teacher had 949 people on the list, Secondary Teacher 17,109.

At a glance

Elementary School TeacherSecondary Teacher
People on the 2025 list94917,109
Median salary$118,063$118,166
Middle half$114,011–$120,304$116,942–$123,145
Highest salary$152,979$223,394
Total salaries$110,675,791$2,051,374,866
People, change−11.2% vs 2024−6.3% vs 2024
Median, change−10.2% vs 2024−10.6% vs 2024

Median salary by year

Show as a table
YearElementary School TeacherSecondary Teacher
2004$110,434
2005$107,326
2006$106,470
2007$107,215
2008$105,973
2009$104,680
2010$103,561
2011$104,012
2012$101,653$102,603
2013$102,392
2014$102,576
2015$103,830$102,487
2016$111,960$102,749
2017$101,530$102,089
2018$101,537$102,260
2019$100,555$102,716
2020$100,862$102,967
2021$101,808$103,959
2022$104,317$103,439
2023$103,090$103,063
2024$131,425$132,222
2025$118,063$118,166

People on the list by year

Show as a table
YearElementary School TeacherSecondary Teacher
20046
200516
200624
200739
200875
2009185
2010233
2011369
201213580
2013763
2014888
2015161,480
20162122,564
2017222,684
2018454,869
2019955,278
20201359,077
202171212,254
202268610,933
202367212,898
20241,06918,254
202594917,109

Highest paid in 2025

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Questions and answers

Which pays more, Elementary School Teacher or Secondary Teacher?

By median salary in 2025, Secondary Teacher: $118,166 against $118,063.

Which has more people on the list?

Secondary Teacher: 17,109 against 949 in 2025.

How has the gap changed since 2012?

In 2012 the median for Elementary School Teacher was $101,653 and for Secondary Teacher $102,603, a gap of $950; in 2025 the gap was $104.

What do these figures cover?

Only people paid $100,000 or more are on the list, so medians and counts describe them, not everyone with each title.

What does “salary paid” include?

What the employer paid in the calendar year, so it can include overtime, retroactive pay, vacation payouts, severance or a partial year. Taxable benefits are listed separately. How the lists work