Elementary School Teacher Salary in Minnesota: $78,863 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Minnesota's 44 metropolitan areas, the average median elementary school teacher pay sits at $78,863/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 25-2021. Because Minnesota sits at BEA RPP 98.5 (1% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $80,064 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Minneapolis ($79,730), St. Paul ($78,930), Bloomington ($78,317).
In Minnesota, the projected average median salary for elementary school teachers in 2026 is $78,863, which is 22.1% higher than the national median of $64,597. This discrepancy highlights Minnesota's investment in education and reflects a competitive job market within the state. The highest paying city is Minneapolis, where teachers can expect to earn $80,511, while Mankato offers the lowest salary at $63,688, resulting in a salary gap of $16,823 between these cities. Factors driving this difference include cost of living variations, local school district funding, and market demand for teachers in urban versus rural areas. Minnesota has specific licensing requirements that can influence salaries, including continuing education and adherence to scope of practice laws. Demand drivers such as student population growth and an increasing emphasis on quality education further contribute to the job market dynamics. With a projected annual growth rate of 0.98% for elementary school teaching positions, the outlook for prospective educators remains steady. Major cities like St. Paul, Bloomington, Rochester, and Maple Grove also offer salaries that reflect the local economic conditions, ranging from $74,879 in Maple Grove to $79,704 in St. Paul. Overall, the elementary teaching landscape in Minnesota presents strong earning potential well above national averages.
Minnesota Elementary School Teacher Salary Range
Overall salary range in Minnesota: $46,976 (lowest entry-level) to $123,541 (highest top earner)
Minnesota vs National Average
Minnesota elementary school teachers earn 22.08% more than the national median (+$14,266/year difference).
Minnesota Elementary School Teacher Salary Distribution (2026)
Elementary School Teacher salaries in Minnesota range from $49,880 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $100,391 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $78,863. The Minnesota median is $14,266 above the US national median of $64,597. The average hourly rate is $37.91/hr. Approximately 20,742 elementary school teachers are employed across 44 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$64,923
2025 BLS Actual
$78,098
2026 Current Est.
$78,863
2019–2027 Growth
+22.7%
Salary Trajectory for Elementary School Teachers in Minnesota (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 0.98% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $64,923 | Actual |
| 2020 | $62,359 | Actual |
| 2021 | $73,360 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,494 | Actual |
| 2023 | $63,515 | Actual |
| 2024 | $73,432 | Actual |
| 2025 | $78,098 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $78,863 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $79,636 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Minnesota metropolitan area, the median elementary school teacher salary grew 20.3% from $64,923 (2019) to $78,098 (2025). At a 0.98% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $79,636 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,713 (22.66%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Minnesota metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 0.98% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Minnesota
Lowest Paying Cities in Minnesota
Best Value Cities for Elementary School Teachers in Minnesota
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Minnesota cities offer the most purchasing power for elementary school teachers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud | $73,877 | 87.632 | $84,304 |
| Rochester | $76,513 | 90.821 | $84,246 |
| St. Paul | $79,704 | 98.5 | $80,918 |
| Bloomington | $79,085 | 98.5 | $80,289 |
| Minneapolis | $80,511 | 104.822 | $76,807 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Minnesota
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $49,880 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $78,863 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $100,391 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Minnesota metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 44 Cities in Minnesota
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis | $80,511 |
| 2 | St. Paul | $79,704 |
| 3 | Bloomington | $79,085 |
| 4 | Rochester | $76,513 |
| 5 | Maple Grove | $74,879 |
| 6 | Woodbury | $74,849 |
| 7 | Eden Prairie | $74,780 |
| 8 | St. Cloud | $73,877 |
| 9 | Owatonna | $73,338 |
| 10 | Brooklyn Park | $73,241 |
| 11 | Plymouth | $73,112 |
| 12 | Roseville | $73,068 |
| 13 | Chaska | $73,011 |
| 14 | Minnetonka | $72,994 |
| 15 | Cottage Grove | $72,914 |
| 16 | Burnsville | $72,854 |
| 17 | Lakeville | $72,585 |
| 18 | Chanhassen | $72,535 |
| 19 | Inver Grove Heights | $72,420 |
| 20 | Eagan | $72,410 |
| 21 | Brooklyn Center | $72,392 |
| 22 | Elk River | $72,380 |
| 23 | Prior Lake | $72,306 |
| 24 | Ramsey | $72,042 |
| 25 | Blaine | $71,737 |
| 26 | Apple Valley | $71,626 |
| 27 | Shakopee | $71,554 |
| 28 | Coon Rapids | $71,543 |
| 29 | Savage | $71,428 |
| 30 | Edina | $71,421 |
| 31 | Maplewood | $71,211 |
| 32 | Andover | $71,194 |
| 33 | Richfield | $71,159 |
| 34 | St. Louis Park | $71,154 |
| 35 | Moorhead | $71,051 |
| 36 | Northfield | $70,536 |
| 37 | Hastings | $70,386 |
| 38 | Fridley | $70,070 |
| 39 | Winona | $70,012 |
| 40 | Shoreview | $69,984 |
| 41 | Austin | $69,875 |
| 42 | Faribault | $69,786 |
| 43 | Duluth | $66,485 |
| 44 | Mankato | $63,688 |
More Minnesota Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore elementary school teacher hourly pay in Minnesota cities.
Entry Level
Starting salaries for new elementary school teachers.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced elementary school teachers.
Compare Cities in Minnesota
View all comparisons →Explore More Elementary School Teacher Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does Minnesota elementary school teacher pay compare to the national average?
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Written by Jordan Lee, M.Ed.
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in elementary education. They focus on curriculum development and teaching methodologies. Their experience includes working in public schools.
Methodology & Data Source
Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 0.98% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 elementary school teacher compensation across Minnesota. State averages are employment-weighted across 44 metro areas — larger metro areas with more elementary school teacherscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.98%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for elementary school teachers (SOC 25-2021).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, M.Ed., a licensed elementary school teacher with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov