Elementary school teachers, except special education
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
Elementary school teachers, except special education teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level. The role reports a median annual salary of $62,340 in the US and is showing modest growth of -2% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows low AI exposure (0.37 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Learning Strategies, Instructing, Speaking, Active Listening, Monitoring.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £45,939 a year for Primary education teaching professionals (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £37,847 to £51,676 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2314). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Elementary school teachers, except special education, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Qualification Class 12, then a 2-year elementary teacher-training diploma (D.El.Ed / JBT)[1][2]
- 2 · Entrance exam CTET Paper I (classes I–V); state government schools use their own State TET[2]
- 3 · First role Primary Teacher (PRT) in a Kendriya Vidyalaya or government school[1]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan — Eligibility criteria as per KVS Recruitment Rules (part-time/contractual teachers) (read on 2026-09-27)
- CTET September 2026 Information Bulletin — CBSE (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security
A day in the life
You get to school early to set up the classroom, write the day's goals on the board and lay out materials for a science activity. Once the children arrive you take attendance and start with a mathematics lesson, explaining a new idea, working examples together and then letting pairs practise while you move between desks. Mid-morning you read aloud from a class book and ask questions that check understanding. After break comes the science activity, with small groups testing which objects float. You keep order with clear, calm rules, and find a quiet moment to talk with a child who seems upset. During lunch you supervise the playground. In the afternoon you teach language and art, then mark exercise books and plan tomorrow's lessons. A parent meeting finishes the day. The workload is heavy and the marking never ends, but seeing a child finally read a whole page alone makes it all worthwhile.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Elementary school teachers, except special education do?
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
What does a typical day look like in Elementary school teachers, except special education?
You get to school early to set up the classroom, write the day's goals on the board and lay out materials for a science activity. Once the children arrive you take attendance and start with a mathematics lesson, explaining a new idea, working examples together and then letting pairs practise while you move between desks. Mid-morning you read aloud from a class book and ask questions that check understanding. After break comes the science activity, with small groups testing which objects float.
How much does Elementary school teachers, except special education earn?
The median annual salary for Elementary school teachers, except special education in the US is $62,340.
What is the job outlook for Elementary school teachers, except special education?
The role is showing modest growth of -2% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 1,422,700 workers.
How do I become elementary school teachers, except special education?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Elementary school teachers, except special education need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Learning Strategies, Instructing, Speaking, Active Listening, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Elementary school teachers, except special education?
Our AI-durability model gives Elementary school teachers, except special education a score of 0.37 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Elementary school teachers, except special education has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.