Elementary School Teacher Salary: Washington, DC vs Boston, MA
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 Washington, DC and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $79,470 | $98,060▲ | -$18,590 |
| 25th Percentile | $64,140 | $77,820▲ | -$13,680 |
| 75th Percentile | $102,750 | $104,240▲ | -$1,490 |
| 90th Percentile | $122,580 | $124,880▲ | -$2,300 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 108.9 | 108.3 | +0.6 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $72,986 | $90,573▲ | -$17,587 |
| Total Employment | 30,940 | 20,340 | +10,600 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $18,590 more (median: $79,470 vs $98,060). BEA's regional price parity is 108.9 in Washington, DC and 108.3 in Boston, MA (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $72,986 and $90,573, so Boston, MA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $18,590 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: $72,986 for Washington and $90,573 for Boston, a difference of $17,587.
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 (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 30,940 Elementary School Teacher jobs in the Washington area and 20,340 in the Boston area. For broader context, see our District of Columbia overview and the full Elementary School Teacher city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elementary School Teacher salary higher in Washington, DC or Boston, MA?
Boston, MA has the higher median wage for Elementary School Teachers ($98,060 per year, against $79,470 in Washington, DC; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $72,986 in Washington, DC and $90,573 in Boston, MA.
How do prices compare between Washington, DC and Boston, MA?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 108.9 for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area and 108.3 for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 8.9% above the national level for Washington, DC and 8.3% above the national level for Boston, MA.
Which city pays Elementary School Teachers more once local prices are counted?
Boston, MA: at national-average prices its median Elementary School Teacher wage is $90,573, against $72,986 for Washington, DC. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.