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Elementary School Teachers salary in Washington, DC

Elementary School Teachers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area earn a median of $79,470 a year, an average of $84,370. About 30,940 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Elementary School Teachers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$79,470
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$84,370
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$60,790
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$122,580
Top of the range
People employed
30,940
In Washington metro area
Rent share of median wage
28.7%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Washington

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,900
per month, in Washington, DC
Income needed for median rent
$76,000
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median elementary school teachers wage
$79,470
4.6% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
28.7%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$106,287
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Washington area. Read the Washington, DC cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Elementary School Teachers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

El Paso, TX
-19.7%
Median $63,800
Mean $62,660
Employed 2,580
Boston, MA
+23.4%
Median $98,060
Mean $91,590
Employed 20,340
Nashville-Davidson, TN
-22.7%
Median $61,460
Mean $64,250
Employed 8,400
Oklahoma City, OK
-38.6%
Median $48,780
Mean $55,650
Employed 6,070
Las Vegas, NV
-18.2%
Median $65,040
Mean $64,890
Employed 6,660
Portland, OR
+3.6%
Median $82,330
Mean $84,670
Employed 7,530
Detroit, MI
-17.9%
Median $65,210
Mean $72,730
Employed 18,390
Denver, CO
-3.2%
Median $76,910
Mean $74,950
Employed 12,030

See elementary school teachers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $79,470 / year
$79,470
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax District of Columbia (DC)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.