Elementary School Teachers salary in Washington, DC

Median pay for elementary school teachers in Washington, DC: $79,860/yr

Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $52,170 – $110,200 · about 29,460 employed locally

Above the typical metro median ($62,430) by +$17,430 (+28%).

What it's really worth in Washington

With Washington's cost of living at 110 (US=100), that $79,860 has the buying power of about $72,903 in an average-cost US metro.

Local context: median household income $119,803 · median home $583,013 · median rent $2,416/mo.

Full Washington cost of living & taxes →

How Washington ranks for this job

On raw pay, Washington, DC is 32nd of the 187 metros we hold elementary school teachers wages for. Once Washington's cost of living is applied, it ranks 50th.

Pay and living costs are roughly in step here, so Washington sits in much the same place whether you look at raw salary or spending power.

What that salary buys in Washington

A median home in Washington, DC costs $583,013 — about 7.3× 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 $2,416/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 Washington.

Metro	Median pay	vs Washington	Rent vs Washington
Merced, CA	$105,090	+32%	0.8×
San Francisco, CA	$103,440	+30%	1.3×
Oxnard, CA	$103,350	+29%	1.2×
Modesto, CA	$101,210	+27%	0.8×

Who hires elementary school teachers around Washington

Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.

• U.S. Department of Defense · Government
• Georgetown University · Education

Other jobs in Washington