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Elementary school is a time when children begin to obtain the knowledge that serves as the foundation for the remainder of their education. As an elementary school teacher, you work with a classroom of students, aged anywhere from six to twelve years. Usually, elementary school teachers are responsible for teaching multiple subjects to the same group of students, so proficiency in math, science, language, and social studies is required.

Elementary school teachers typically work full-time for a 10-month traditional school year with summers off. Since a number of the tasks required to successfully run a classroom cannot be completed during the regular school day, many teachers work more than 40 hours per week. Elementary school teachers may do any of the following tasks during a typical day:

• Planning, evaluating, and assigning lessons
• Preparing and grading tests and exams
• Maintaining an orderly classroom
• Communicating with parents about their child's progress
• Interacting with grade level coworkers to assess curriculum efficacy and implementation

Elementary School Teacher Salary: 2009 Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual elementary school teacher salary in 2009 was $50,510, while the top 10 percent of elementary school teachers earned $78,720 or more that same year. An overwhelming majority of elementary school teachers were employed by elementary or grade schools in 2009, and these employers also ranked highly among top-paying industries for this position with a mean annual wage of $53,190.

The mid-Atlantic and New England regions of the U.S. tend to pay elementary school teachers very well, as several states in these areas rank among the highest-paying states nationwide, ranging from $64,200 to $68,410 annually, according to the BLS. The top-paying states for elementary school teachers are:

• Rhode Island
• Alaska
• Connecticut
• New York
• District of Columbia

Specific metropolitan areas that offer the highest salaries for elementary school teachers are Nassau-Suffolk (NY), Waterbury (CT), and Bethesda-Frederick-Gaithersburg (MD), with mean annual salaries of $83,090, $74,570, and $72,960, respectively.

States that employed the highest concentration of elementary school teachers in 2009 included North Dakota, Texas, Hawaii, Illinois, and Louisiana, the BLS reports.

Elementary School Teacher Training: Online and Classroom Options

The traditional way to become an elementary school teacher is to complete a bachelor's degree program and obtain a teaching license for early childhood grades (usually preschool through third grade) or elementary grades (first grade through sixth or eighth grade), though requirements for licenses vary from state to state. In some areas, private schools may be exempt from public school licensing requirements, though a bachelor's degree is typically still mandatory.

Many states require their teachers to participate in continuing education in order to keep their licenses current. If this is the case in your state, or if you would like to advance into administrative or coordinator roles within your school, you can continue your elementary school teacher training online through a number of online certification programs or online course offerings. Furthermore, teachers with experience in the online learning environment may be well-suited to take on positions at online elementary schools, a segment of the elementary school world that continues to grow.

Employment Outlook and Job Prospects for Elementary School Teachers

Employment of elementary school teachers is expected to grow by about 13 percent between 2008 and 2018, and this is about as much growth as is expected on average across all occupations nationally, according to the BLS. While enrollment varies regionally, higher job turnover and increased federal funding should create good job opportunities for elementary school teachers in urban and rural areas.

Learn more: How to become an elementary school teacher [Infographic]