Primary school teacher

What does a primary school teacher do?

• Plan and teach lessons in reading, writing, mathematics, science and other subjects.
• Adapt teaching for children with different abilities, languages and needs.
• Assess children's progress, mark their work and write reports.
• Manage behaviour and create a safe, positive classroom.
• Meet parents and carers to discuss progress and concerns.
• Recognise signs of learning difficulties or harm and report concerns.
• Work with teaching assistants, specialists and other staff.

Where do they work?

Primary teachers work in state, private, religious and international schools. They usually teach one class for most of the day, following a set timetable and school calendar. Many teachers plan lessons, mark work and complete paperwork in the evenings and at weekends, although they also have longer holidays than many other workers. Class sizes, resources and support vary greatly between countries and between schools.

What skills do you need?

• Planning and organisation
• Clear explanation of ideas
• Classroom and behaviour management
• Patience and empathy
• Knowledge of child development
• Creativity and adaptability
• Communication with parents
• Teamwork with other staff

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• maintain relations with children's parents
• apply intercultural teaching strategies
• demonstrate when teaching
• assist students with equipment
• guarantee students' safety
• perform classroom management
• give constructive feedback
• assign homework
• support the positiveness of youths
• manage student relationships
• employ pedagogic strategies to facilitate creative engagement
• implement care programmes for children

Essential knowledge: primary school procedures · teamwork principles · learning difficulties · assessment processes · curriculum objectives

How do you become a primary school teacher?

In many countries you study a three- or four-year bachelor's degree in primary education that includes teaching practice in schools. Another common route is a degree in any subject followed by a one- or two-year teacher training programme. Some countries, such as Finland, require a master's degree. You then apply for a teaching licence or registration, often after an induction period, and in some countries you must pass a national exam to teach in state schools. Career changers can often use postgraduate or employment-based training routes.

1. Education degree. A bachelor's degree in primary or elementary education, usually three or four years long, combines subject knowledge, child development and teaching methods with placements in schools. In many countries it leads directly to a teaching licence. It is the most common route for school leavers who already know they want to teach.
2. Postgraduate teacher training. If you have a degree in another subject, you can take a one- or two-year teacher training programme or a master's in teaching. Subjects such as English, mathematics, psychology or history are useful because they relate to the primary curriculum. This route is common in the UK, Ireland, Australia and many other countries.
3. Employment-based and alternative routes. Some countries let you train while working in a school, earning a salary and studying part-time. In the United States, many states offer alternative certification programmes for graduates and career changers. Experience as a teaching assistant, tutor or youth worker can help you get a place on these routes.

Degrees that lead to this career

• Education

  An education degree studies how people learn and how teaching, schools and education systems work.

  5 linked careers

• English literature

  An English literature degree teaches you to read, analyse and write about novels, poetry, plays and other texts written in English, from medieval writing to the present day.

  6 linked careers

• Mathematics

  A mathematics degree develops advanced reasoning and problem-solving through pure mathematics, such as algebra and analysis, and applied areas, such as statistics, modelling and computing.

  6 linked careers

• Psychology

  A psychology degree is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour: how people think, feel, learn, develop and relate to each other.

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• History

  A history degree studies how societies, cultures, economies and ideas have changed over time, using evidence such as documents, objects and people's memories.

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Do you need a licence to work as a primary school teacher?

Teaching in state primary schools is a regulated profession in most countries. You usually need a recognised teaching qualification and must register with or be licensed by a national or regional authority, with background checks for working with children. In some countries, such as the United States and Canada, each state or province issues its own licences. Private and international schools may set their own rules. Check the requirements with the education authority where you want to teach.

How much does a primary school teacher earn?

Pay in the United States

• $63,970Median annual wage, May 2025
• $47,960–$104,340Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%
• 1.4MPeople employed in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 25-2021, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Professionals around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 2, "Professionals". The table covers the whole group, which includes primary school teacher and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Trainee or newly qualified teacher
2. Class teacher
3. Subject or year-group leader
4. Deputy head teacher
5. Head teacher or principal

Job outlook

Every country needs primary teachers, but demand depends on the number of children. Falling birth rates are reducing pupil numbers in parts of Europe and East Asia, while many countries in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia still need many more teachers. Many countries also find it hard to keep teachers because of workload and pay, especially in rural or disadvantaged areas. Technology is changing lessons, but teaching young children remains a very human job.

Questions about becoming a primary school teacher

What qualifications do you need to be a primary school teacher?

Most countries require a bachelor's degree in education, or a degree in another subject followed by teacher training, plus a teaching licence or registration. Some countries, such as Finland, require a master's degree. You will also need background checks for working with children, and in some countries you must pass a national teaching exam to work in state schools.

Can I become a primary teacher without an education degree?

Yes, in many countries. If you have a degree in another subject, you can usually take a postgraduate teacher training programme or an employment-based route, where you train while working in a school. Private and international schools sometimes hire graduates without a teaching qualification, but state schools usually require one.

What is the difference between primary and secondary teaching?

Primary teachers usually teach one class of younger children across most subjects and spend much of their day with the same pupils. Secondary teachers specialise in one or two subjects and teach many different classes of older students, often preparing them for national exams. Primary teaching focuses more on basic skills and child development, while secondary teaching needs deeper subject knowledge.

Can I teach abroad with my teaching qualification?

Often, but not automatically. Each country decides whether to recognise foreign teaching qualifications, and you may need to have your degree assessed, complete extra training or pass language tests. International schools often hire teachers who hold a recognised licence from their home country. Check with the education authority or regulator in the country you want to move to.

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Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 25-2021, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 2341.1

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become a primary school teacher: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/primary-teacher/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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