Elementary school teachers lay the foundation for academic success, foster emotional development in young children, and inspire a love of learning that can last a lifetime.
Nevada has a vibrant education system and a diverse student population. This presents an enticing environment if you’re an aspiring teacher.
The average annual elementary teacher salary as of May 2022 in Nevada is $60,670. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession.
The Silver State is known for its commitment to educational excellence and innovation and provides a supportive community for educators to thrive and make a lasting impact.
In this guide, Teachers of Tomorrow highlights the salaries for elementary school teachers in Nevada. We’ll also share the steps you need to take to become an elementary teacher and available alternative teacher certification options.
What Is an Elementary School Teacher?
An elementary school teacher teaches young children from kindergarten through fifth or sixth grade.
The primary role of the teacher is to instruct their assigned class in subjects such as reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.
Children in elementary school are commonly aged between six and eleven years old. Therefore, you’ll be tasked with developing these children’s social and emotional skills to prepare them for their academic and personal lives ahead.
To become a successful elementary school teacher, you must have the following skills:
- Good communication to deliver instruction in an easy-to-understand manner.
- Creativity to create engaging and fun lessons and activities.
- Adaptability to create different learning experiences for children with diverse needs.
Elementary school teachers have numerous responsibilities within their classrooms. These include:
- Creating and implementing lesson plans that align with state and school district standards.
- Assessing student assignments and providing feedback to support their improvement.
- Regularly communicating with parents about their child’s progress.
- Maintaining a safe classroom environment and managing student behavior.
Teachers are expected to engage in ongoing professional development and training to stay current with the latest teaching methods and technology.
How Much Do Elementary School Teachers in Nevada Make?
This is the average annual salaries for elementary school teachers in Nevada as of May 2022
according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Highest salary – $85,210
- Average salary – $60,670
- Lowest salary – $46,950
The salary variations of different elementary school teachers in Nevada can vary depending on specific circumstances such as the years of experience, certifications, and the school district.
For example, in some school districts teachers expect their salary to go up the scale with each year of experience. Other districts place a strong emphasis on certifications and offer higher salaries to teachers with extra certifications.
Average Annual Percentage Wages for Elementary Teachers in Nevada
How to Become an Elementary School Teacher In Nevada
To become an elementary school teacher in Nevada, you must follow specific steps:
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree: The first step is to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The degree program should include a teacher preparation component or lead to a teaching certification.
- Complete a teacher preparation program: If your bachelor’s degree doesn’t include teacher preparation, you must complete a teacher preparation program. The program should provide coursework and experiences to prepare you for classroom teaching. It must also be approved by the Nevada Department of Education.
- Gain classroom experience: As part of your teacher preparation program, you’ll be required to complete a student teaching experience to gain practical classroom experience under the guidance of an experienced teacher.
- Apply for a teaching license: Once you’ve completed the teacher preparation program, you can apply for a teaching license through the Nevada Department of Education. You’ll need to provide all academic and other documents required.
- Pass required exams: To be licensed as an elementary school teacher, you must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators and the Principles of Learning and Teaching exam.
- Pass a background test: After passing all the training and exams, you must complete a background test to demonstrate you do not have a criminal or violent history. This is the last step for getting licensed by the Nevada Department of Education.
Once you have obtained your teaching license, you can start applying for elementary school teaching positions in Nevada. You can look at school district websites, education job fairs, and for openings on job boards such as Indeed and Glassdoor.
Alternative route to certification for elementary school teachers.
Alternative route to certification is an option for aspiring elementary school teachers who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field other than education.
In Nevada, the alternative route to teacher certification is known as the Alternative Route to Licensure (ARL) program. This program allows individuals to become certified teachers while simultaneously working in a classroom.
To be eligible for alternative certification, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators.
You must then follow these steps to be certified:
- Secure a teaching position in a Nevada school district or charter school. The school district or charter school must agree to hire you as an alternative route candidate and provide you with a mentor or supervisor.
- Once you are employed, you can apply to the ARL program through the Nevada Department of Education.
- You must then work with your mentor to develop a Professional Learning Plan (PLP). The PLP outlines the specific coursework, professional development, and classroom experiences you must complete during your alternative certification process.
- As an alternative route candidate, you’ll be required to complete coursework and professional development specific to teaching.
- Once you have completed the required coursework and professional development outlined in your PLP, you can apply for a Provisional License. This license allows you to continue teaching while meeting the remaining requirements for full licensure.
- After passing the required exams, fulfilling coursework and professional development, and meeting any other requirements set by the ARL program, you can apply for a full teaching license in Nevada.
What Is the Lowest and Highest Paying Elementary School Teaching Job?
As a certified elementary school teacher in Nevada, you can work in various settings:
- Public schools: Nevada typically follows a salary schedule based on years of experience and level of education for public schools. This means that the lowest paying elementary school teaching job in Nevada’s public school system would typically be an entry-level position for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no prior teaching experience.
- Private schools: The salary structure for elementary school teachers can vary significantly. Some private schools may offer salaries comparable to or slightly higher than those in the public school system, while others may offer lower salaries.
- Charter schools: These schools operate independently but receive public funding. The salary range for elementary school teachers in charter schools is usually similar to that of public schools.
- Online teaching: There are many emerging opportunities for elementary school teachers to work in virtual schools or online teaching platforms. The salary range for online teaching can vary widely depending on the specific organization or platform.
- International schools: Salaries in international schools can vary greatly depending on the location, type of school, and the teacher’s qualifications and experience, but our research shows that some of the best-paid teachers in Nevada work for international schools
Average Annual Salary in USD
At Teachers of Tomorrow, we can’t wait to join your journey in becoming one of the best elementary teachers in Nevada. What are you waiting for? Inspire a child!
