Elementary School Teachers salary in Tampa, FL
Median pay for elementary school teachers in Tampa, FL: $68,160/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $49,170 – $83,700 · about 10,640 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($62,430) by +$5,730 (+9%).
What it's really worth in Tampa
With Tampa's cost of living at 102 (US=100), that $68,160 has the buying power of about $66,515 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $67,197 · median home $360,738 · median rent $2,018/mo.
How Tampa ranks for this job
On raw pay, Tampa, FL is 55th of the 187 metros we hold elementary school teachers wages for. Once Tampa's cost of living is applied, it ranks 91st.
The headline number flatters Tampa. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, elementary school teachers here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Tampa
A median home in Tampa, FL costs $360,738 — about 5.3× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $2,018/mo works out at 36% of gross pay — above the conventional 30% affordability ceiling, so renting would stretch this salary.
Where elementary school teachers earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Tampa.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Tampa | Rent vs Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | $105,090 | +54% | 1× |
| San Francisco, CA | $103,440 | +52% | 1.6× |
| Oxnard, CA | $103,350 | +52% | 1.5× |
| Modesto, CA | $101,210 | +48% | 1× |
Same job elsewhere in FL
| Metro | Median pay | vs Tampa | Rent vs Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples, FL | $82,560 | +21% | 1.4× |
| Cape Coral, FL | $72,060 | +6% | 0.9× |
| Jacksonville, FL | $69,070 | +1% | 0.8× |
| Tallahassee, FL | $66,660 | −2% | 0.8× |
Staying in FL keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires elementary school teachers around Tampa
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- State of Florida · Government
- MacDill Air Force Base · Government
- Hillsborough County Schools · Education
Other jobs in Tampa
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 187 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.