Elementary School Teacher Salary: Oklahoma City, OK vs New York, NY
BLS reports this occupation as "Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education" (25-2021); every figure on this page is for that BLS occupation.
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for Elementary School Teachers in Oklahoma City, OK and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $48,780 | $96,900▲ | -$48,120 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,860 | $75,390▲ | -$27,530 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,410 | $128,250▲ | -$68,840 |
| 90th Percentile | $79,520 | $136,330▲ | -$56,810 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 90.4 | 112.6 | -22.2 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $53,955 | $86,085▲ | -$32,130 |
| Total Employment | 6,070 | 98,900 | -92,830 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $48,120 more (median: $48,780 vs $96,900). BEA's regional price parity is 90.4 in Oklahoma City, OK and 112.6 in New York, NY (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $53,955 and $86,085, so New York, NY comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $48,120 gap between the two medians is a gap in dollars, not in what those dollars buy. Dividing each median by its area's regional price parity restates it at national-average prices: $53,955 for Oklahoma City and $86,085 for New York, a difference of $32,130.
The price levels come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which describes them this way: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” The figures used here are the all-items index for each whole metropolitan area (Oklahoma City, OK; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 6,070 Elementary School Teacher jobs in the Oklahoma City area and 98,900 in the New York area. For broader context, see our Oklahoma overview and the full Elementary School Teacher city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elementary School Teacher salary higher in Oklahoma City, OK or New York, NY?
New York, NY has the higher median wage for Elementary School Teachers ($96,900 per year, against $48,780 in Oklahoma City, OK; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $53,955 in Oklahoma City, OK and $86,085 in New York, NY.
How do prices compare between Oklahoma City, OK and New York, NY?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 90.4 for the Oklahoma City, OK metropolitan area and 112.6 for the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 9.6% below the national level for Oklahoma City, OK and 12.6% above the national level for New York, NY.
Which city pays Elementary School Teachers more once local prices are counted?
New York, NY: at national-average prices its median Elementary School Teacher wage is $86,085, against $53,955 for Oklahoma City, OK. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.