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What Can You Do With an Elementary Education Degree? Jobs (2026)
Key takeaway: An elementary education degree leads primarily to classroom teaching: elementary school teacher at a median annual wage of $63,970, middle school teacher at $64,370, and secondary school teacher at $72,040, with teaching assistant roles at $36,780 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians). Teaching in a public school also requires a state license, which means an approved preparation program, supervised student teaching, and state exams.
Elementary education is a licensure-oriented major, so the career question and the certification question are really the same question. The degree prepares you to teach a full curriculum to one group of children across a school year, usually in a grade band such as K-6 or 1-8 depending on your state’s licensure structure.
Jobs you can get with an elementary education degree
| Occupation | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Secondary school teacher | $72,040 |
| Middle school teacher | $64,370 |
| Elementary school teacher | $63,970 |
| Teaching assistant | $36,780 |
View the data behind this chart
| Occupation | Avg. annual openings |
|---|---|
| Teaching Assistant | 170,400/yr |
| Elementary School Teacher | 91,000/yr |
| Secondary School Teacher | 66,200/yr |
| Middle School Teacher | 40,500/yr |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians. Median means half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less. Teacher pay is set by district salary schedules built on years of service and education level, so local schedules matter more than national figures.
Elementary school teacher. The core destination of the degree. Elementary teachers plan and deliver instruction across reading, mathematics, science, and social studies to the same class all year, assess learning and adjust instruction, manage classroom behavior and routines, differentiate for a wide range of reading and math levels, document progress, and communicate regularly with families. The generalist scope is what distinguishes the role from later grade levels.
Middle school teacher. Middle school teaching shifts to one or two subject areas taught to several class sections a day, with more emphasis on content depth and on the developmental transition students are going through. Elementary licensure often extends into middle grades in states with a K-8 structure; where it does not, adding a middle-grades endorsement is the usual route.
Secondary school teacher. High school teaching is subject-specialist work, and it is included here because the occupational group is closely related and because some elementary graduates later add secondary certification in a content area. Entry normally requires coursework depth in that subject plus a secondary credential, not just the elementary license.
Teaching assistant. Assistants, sometimes called paraprofessionals or instructional aides, support the lead teacher: working with small groups, reinforcing lessons, supervising non-instructional time, preparing materials, and often supporting students with disabilities. The position does not require a bachelor’s degree in most districts, and the assistant does not hold instructional responsibility for the class.
What the degree level changes
A bachelor’s degree is the baseline for teaching, but the degree alone is not enough. To teach in a public school you need a state-issued license, which typically requires completing a state-approved educator preparation program, a supervised student teaching placement, and passing scores on state-required content and pedagogy examinations, along with a background check. The online bachelor’s in elementary education is where that preparation happens, and any program you consider should be explicit about whether it leads to licensure in your state. Licensure is state-specific: reciprocity agreements exist, but moving states usually means additional testing or coursework.
Private schools set their own hiring rules and may not require a state license, though many prefer one.
A master’s degree is not required to start teaching in most states. What the online master’s in elementary education changes is placement on the district salary schedule, eligibility for specialist roles such as reading specialist or instructional coach, and preparation for curriculum and leadership positions. Some states require a master’s or additional coursework to move from an initial license to a professional one within a set number of years, so check your state’s renewal rules early.
Common questions
What jobs can you get with an elementary education degree?
The main destination is elementary classroom teaching, with related paths into middle school teaching, secondary teaching with additional content certification, and instructional support roles such as teaching assistant. Graduates also work in private schools, tutoring and enrichment programs, curriculum and educational publishing, and children’s museum and after-school program education.
How much do elementary education majors make?
Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 OEWS national medians are $63,970 for elementary school teachers, $64,370 for middle school teachers, $72,040 for secondary school teachers, and $36,780 for teaching assistants. District salary schedules vary widely, so your state and district matter more than the national median.
Do you need a teaching license?
Yes, to teach in a public school. Licensure requires completing a state-approved preparation program, supervised student teaching, and state examinations. Requirements are set state by state, so confirm that any online program you consider leads to licensure where you plan to teach.
Do you need a master’s degree to teach elementary school?
No. A bachelor’s plus licensure is the standard entry requirement. A master’s typically raises your placement on the district salary schedule and opens specialist and leadership roles, and some states require additional graduate coursework to advance your license.
Is an elementary education degree worth it?
It is a direct, well-defined path into a licensed profession, but the pay scale is set by public salary schedules and does not move quickly with experience alone. The is an elementary education degree worth it page compares those figures against program cost.
Keep exploring
- Start at the elementary education program hub, then compare levels: online bachelor’s and online master’s.
- Weigh the trade-offs on is it worth it, or find licensure-eligible programs near you at the state index.
- Compare related fields: education, early childhood education, and special education.
Data verified: August 12, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
Back to Online Elementary Education Degrees Guide: Levels and Licensure