Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| North Carolina | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $54,930 | $72,224 | -24% |
| Median hourly wage | $26.41 | $34.72 | -24% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $58,250.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Elementary School Teacher in North Carolina is $54,930, or about $26.41 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Elementary School Teachers is $72,224. North Carolina is -24% below the national median.
Entry-level elementary school teachers in North Carolina typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 42,410 elementary school teacher jobs on record and a median salary of $54,930, North Carolina offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, elementary school teachers rank 382 of the 745 occupations reported in North Carolina — higher than 49% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Economics Teachers, Postsecondary at $114,200, Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary at $108,430, Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary at $103,220 — all figures are median annual wages for North Carolina.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. North Carolina levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 95.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, elementary school teachers rank 382 of the 745 occupations reported in North Carolina — higher than 49% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in North Carolina | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $114,200 | $490 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $108,430 | $90 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $103,220 | $9,240 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $102,980 | $360 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $102,560 | $500 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $97,090 | $450 |
North Carolina levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 95.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 745 occupations in North Carolina.