Career comparison
Elementary School Teacher vs. Middle School Teacher
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Middle school teachers earn more at the median ($64,370 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. Middle school teachers teach students in grades 6 through 8 through big changes in learning and life.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Elementary School Teacher | Middle School Teacher | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $63,970 | $64,370 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $47,960 – $104,340 | $48,080 – $102,540 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -0.4% (little or no change) | -0.4% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 87,500 | 38,800 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years plus licensing | 4 years plus licensing |
| Key credential | State teaching license | State teaching license |
| Work setting | Teachers work in elementary school classrooms, with time in meetings and duties around the school.. | Middle school teachers work in classrooms and labs, moving between classes, meetings and duties.. |
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
Middle School Teacher
- Plan and teach subject lessons
- Grade assignments and tests
- Manage classroom behavior
- Support study skills and organization
- Differentiate instruction
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, working with people, indoor work, and creative work. 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 middle school teacher if…
- I love a particular subject
- I can relate to preteens
- I’m patient and consistent
Still torn? Take the Elementary School Teacher fit quiz and the Middle School Teacher fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, elementary school teacher or middle school teacher?
Middle School Teachers earn more at the median: $64,370 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 middle school teachers (4 years plus licensing).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects elementary school teachers to grow -0.4% from 2025–35, compared with -0.4% for middle school teachers.