Elementary School Teacher Salary in Syracuse, NY: $79,330 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time elementary school teacher in Syracuse, NY earns a median $79,330/year (≈ $38.14/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 25-2021). Once you factor in Syracuse's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 95.7), that paycheck buys what $82,858 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.0% above the New York state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Syracuse, New York, the compensation for elementary school teachers is notably competitive, with a projected median salary of $79,330 for 2026. When considering the full salary range, teachers can expect earnings between $61,477 at the 10th percentile and $94,406 at the 90th percentile. Compared to the national average of $64,597, the elementary school teacher salary in Syracuse reveals a significant premium of 22.81%. This disparity can be attributed to the area's cost of living index of 95.742, which is below the national average, allowing for a more advantageous salary structure. These insights are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, indicating that Syracuse offers a robust environment for educators in the region.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $61,477 | $29.56 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $64,587 | $31.05 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $79,330 | $38.14 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $80,713 | $38.81 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $94,406 | $45.39 |
Median Salary Position
22.81% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Syracuse
In Syracuse, NY, the elementary school teacher salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $32,929 (2026 est.). At $79,330, the local median is 22.81% above the national median of $64,597.
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At 40 hours/week in Syracuse: You'd be above the median
How Syracuse Elementary School Teacher Pay Compares
Syracuse median: $79,330/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Syracuse Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $77,774 | +2.00% more |
| National Average | $64,597 | +22.81% more |
Elementary School Teachers in Syracuse, NY earn a median of $79,330 per year (2026 est.), which is 22.81% higher than the national median of $64,597 and 2.00% above the New York state average of $77,774.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Syracuse has a cost of living 4.26% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Syracuse, NY has a cost-of-living index of 95.742 (below the national average of 100). A elementary school teacher earning $79,330 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $82,858 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.45% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$66,690
2025 BLS Actual
$78,560
2026 Current Est.
$79,330
2019–2027 Growth
+20.1%
Salary Trajectory for Elementary School Teachers in Syracuse (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 0.98% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $66,690 | Actual |
| 2020 | $67,370 | Actual |
| 2021 | $63,930 | Actual |
| 2022 | $76,520 | Actual |
| 2023 | $78,890 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,260 | Actual |
| 2025 | $78,560 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $79,330 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $80,107 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Syracuse metropolitan area, the median elementary school teacher salary grew 17.8% from $66,690 (2019) to $78,560 (2025). At a 0.98% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $80,107 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,417 (20.12%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Syracuse 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $61,477 – $64,587 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $64,587 – $79,330 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $79,330 – $80,713 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $80,713 – $94,406 |
Teacher salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual elementary school teacher compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Elementary School Teacher Job Market in Syracuse
Looking deeper into the local job market, approximately 2,620 elementary school teachers are currently employed in Syracuse, reflecting a stable demand for educators in the area. With the relatively low cost of living, the take-home purchasing power for teachers is enhanced, allowing for greater financial flexibility. School districts in the region, including K-12 public schools and charter schools, typically follow a step-and-lane pay structure based on years of experience and education levels. High-paying opportunities exist within public school districts, while diverse entities like private, parochial, and specialty schools can also present varied compensation scenarios. Factors influencing salary disparities include additional stipends for hard-to-fill positions such as special education and STEM, advanced qualifications, and summer contracts. To maximize their earnings, teachers should pursue National Board Certification and seek avenues for supplementary duties, such as tutoring or coaching, enhancing their overall compensation in the Syracuse market.
More salary data for Syracuse, NY:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $78,560 for elementary school teachersin the Syracuse metropolitan area. A 0.98% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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