Career comparison
Elementary School Teacher vs. Instructional Coordinator
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Instructional coordinators earn more at the median ($77,440 vs. $63,970), while elementary school teachers usually get to work faster (4 years plus licensing of training). Elementary school teachers teach children in grades 1 through 5 the foundations of every subject. Instructional coordinators improve teaching and learning by developing curriculum and coaching teachers.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Elementary School Teacher | Instructional Coordinator | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $63,970 | $77,440 ($37.23/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $47,960 – $104,340 | $47,980 – $121,670 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -0.4% (little or no change) | +1.6% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 87,500 | 23,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 4 years plus licensing | Master’s plus 5+ years of teaching |
| Key credential | State teaching license | State administrator or curriculum license |
| Work setting | Teachers work in elementary school classrooms, with time in meetings and duties around the school.. | Coordinators work in school district offices and schools, visiting classrooms and leading meetings.. |
What each job does
Elementary School Teacher
- Plan and teach lessons in core subjects
- Assess and grade student work
- Manage classroom behavior
- Differentiate instruction
- Communicate with families
Instructional Coordinator
- Develop and revise curriculum
- Select instructional materials and technology
- Coach and mentor teachers
- Lead professional development
- Analyze student achievement data
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, working with people, indoor work, and teamwork. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose elementary school teacher if…
- I want to help children learn
- I enjoy teaching many subjects
- I’m organized
Choose instructional coordinator if…
- I loved teaching and want bigger impact
- I like data
- I enjoy coaching adults
Still torn? Take the Elementary School Teacher fit quiz and the Instructional Coordinator fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, elementary school teacher or instructional coordinator?
Instructional Coordinators earn more at the median: $77,440 versus $63,970 for elementary school teachers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Elementary School Teachers typically train faster (4 years plus licensing) than instructional coordinators (Master’s plus 5+ years of teaching).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects instructional coordinators to grow +1.6% from 2025–35, compared with -0.4% for elementary school teachers.