To become an elementary school teacher, you must enjoy working with children. The qualifications to become an elementary school teacher vary by state. You need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in elementary education or related field, and some states require a master’s degree in education as well. If you want to switch to teaching from another career, you can complete an alternative education program sponsored by the county or state Department of Education. You also have to pass certification exams and apply for a teaching license.
The average annual pay for an Elementary School Teacher in Missouri is $31,314 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $15.05 an hour. This is the equivalent of $602/week or $2,609/month.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $54,844 and as low as $12,426, the majority of Elementary School Teacher salaries currently range between $26,136 (25th percentile) to $38,991 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $47,132 annually in Missouri.
Also Read: Elementary teacher salary in Missouri, missouri teacher salaries by district, average teacher salary in missouri with a masters degree, missouri teacher salaries 2022, private school teacher salary missouri, public school teacher salary lookup.
What Does It Take to Be an Elementary School Teacher?
It takes patience, perseverance, and organizational skills to be an elementary school teacher. You need to be flexible and adaptable because you may teach different grade levels each year, from kindergarten through sixth grade. Teamwork is a vital skill; you collaborate with other teachers to develop curriculum and analyze assessment data. You also coordinate with administrators, counselors, and support staff to provide social and emotional support to students. However, you need to be a confident, independent worker since a teacher is often the only adult in a room of 20 to 30 children.
What Do Elementary School Teachers Major In?
Elementary school teachers major in elementary education in their undergraduate or graduate studies. For example, you could major in elementary education for your bachelor’s degree. Or you could major in science for your bachelor’s degree, then go on to get a master’s degree in elementary education. Unlike secondary school teachers who usually focus on one subject, elementary school teachers have to plan and teach lessons on multiple subjects. In your degree programs, you should take classes in math, science, history, literacy, art, and physical fitness as well as the traditional education and pedagogy classes.
The average pay range for an Elementary School Teacher varies greatly (as much as $12,855), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.
Missouri teacher salaries by district
We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for an Elementary School Teacher job is above the average in Missouri. Topping the list is Independence, with St. Joseph and St. Louis close behind in second and third. St. Louis beats the Missouri average by 12.6%, and Independence furthers that trend with another $7,806 (24.9%) above the $31,314.
With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for Missouri, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as an Elementary School Teacher appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
However, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies modestly at 21% between Independence and Springfield, suggesting it may be difficult to see much positive wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may help determine the balance between location and salary for an Elementary School Teacher role.
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | $39,120 | $3,260 | $752 | $18.81 |
| St. Joseph | $35,962 | $2,997 | $692 | $17.29 |
| St. Louis | $35,269 | $2,939 | $678 | $16.96 |
| Lee’s Summit | $35,120 | $2,927 | $675 | $16.88 |
| Kansas City | $34,853 | $2,904 | $670 | $16.76 |
| O’Fallon | $34,395 | $2,866 | $661 | $16.54 |
| St. Charles | $33,711 | $2,809 | $648 | $16.21 |
| Columbia | $32,080 | $2,673 | $617 | $15.42 |
| Joplin | $31,552 | $2,629 | $607 | $15.17 |
| Springfield | $31,415 | $2,618 | $604 | $15.10 |
