SOC 25-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — Memphis
Memphis, TN-MS-AR · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Memphis, TN is $61,510 per year, close to the national median of $63,970 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Memphis, TN is $61,510 per year, close to the national median of $63,970 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $48,160 at the tenth percentile to more than $76,630 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $52,680 to $64,590.
Employment stands at 5,410, or 8.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Knoxville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $61,980. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 221st of 564 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,160 | −24.7% |
| 25th | $52,680 | −17.6% |
| Median (50th) | $61,510 | −3.8% |
| 75th | $64,590 | +1.0% |
| 90th | $76,630 | +19.8% |
| Mean | $59,940 | −6.3% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knoxville | $61,980 | 3,360 | |
| 2 | Nashville | $61,460 | 8,400 | |
| 3 | Johnson City | $61,330 | 570 | |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $59,830 | 2,020 | |
| 5 | Clarksville | $59,760 | 1,560 | |
| 6 | Cleveland | $59,330 | 410 | |
| 7 | Kingsport | $58,130 | 1,110 | |
| 8 | Jackson | $51,470 | 890 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Memphis run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $61,510 goes as far as $66,931 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$66,931US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,510 a year, 3.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,160 to $76,630 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,410 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Knoxville, at $61,980.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Memphis, TN?
The median annual wage is $61,510, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $63,970, so pay in Memphis, TN is 3.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Memphis, TN earns more than $76,630 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,160 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Knoxville, at $61,980 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,410 jobs in this occupation in Memphis, TN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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