by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Elementary Education explores Elementary Education And Teaching. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Students In The Elementary Grades, Which May Include Kindergarten Through Grade Eight, Depending On The School System Or State Regulations. Includes Preparation To Teach All Elementary Education Subject Matter. Continue reading for the key facts every elementary education major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering elementary education programs.
In the U.S., elementary education draws strong interest, with 42,205 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Elementary Education Schools ranking analyzes these 1,109 schools to determine the best overall colleges for elementary education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of elementary education programs later in this article.
Programs in Elementary Education build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations elementary education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a elementary education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a elementary education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several elementary education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 147 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,947 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 30,161 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9,905 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 45 |
People currently working in careers related to elementary education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 84.9% |
| Master’s degree | 10.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in elementary education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying elementary education prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to elementary education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to elementary education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 84,106 | 4.9% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of elementary education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,857 |
| 4 years | $43,846 |
| 5 years | $48,879 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for elementary education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers elementary education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,366 |
With 1,109 different elementary education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased elementary education school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in elementary education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
