INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Elementary Teacher positions are at a 7% growth rate, which is as fast as average. With that said, there are currently 1,492,400 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 111,500 to 1,603,900 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Elementary Teacher jobs was $60,660 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $40,030, and the highest 10% more than $100,480.
Our conclusion? The Elementary Teacher job market is wide open for candidates.
Top elementary teacher sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
What to include in your elementary teacher resume experience section
Elementary teacher resume experience section checklist:
- Use at least 3 and no more than 7 bullet points per position;
- Make your experience sound relevant to what you’re applying for;
- Combine responsibilities, results, and critical situations that you’ve handled well;
- Show that you’re willing to take up on challenges;
- Include numbers in any form you like.
Looking for some real experience section examples? We’ve gathered the best Elementary Teacher resume samples to help you. Check them out before building your own resume!
- Developed lesson plans designed to increase English proficiency in young learners while providing a memorable experience
- Created structured language curriculum focused on developing English proficiency within a three-year program
- Provided ongoing/detailed evaluations for all students on a weekly/monthly basis
- Observed and provided feedback to native Korean English teachers
- Implemented high performing, rigorous curriculum that met cultural and personal needs of Miami-Dade students
- Built relationships with students and families and used data to inform instruction
- Participated in instructional leadership team meetings
- Conducted observations and coaching conversations with team
- Plans curriculum and prepares lessons to meet individual needs of students within state and school requirements based on the educational, physical, and social emotional leanring of students
- Creates learning materials geared to students' abilities and interest
- Motivates students and provides consistent reinforcement of learning skills, and provides continuous assessment and feedback to students
- Implement a variety of instructional strategies consistent with lesson objectives
- Participate in curriculum review and design
- Utilizes curriculum and pacing guides, adopted course of study and other materials in planning lesson plans and teaching outlines.
- Second Grade Teacher, Reilly Elementary, 1980-1981
- First and Second Grade Teacher, Harris Elementary, 1977-1980
- First Grade Teacher, Huntsville Elementary, 1975-1977
- Prepared all levels of students (GT, ELL, SPED, etc.) for state test as well as future careers using project-based learning
- Selected as LEAD teacher who mentored teachers in pedagogy and educational technology including developing & leading professional developments
- 2013-2014 Team of the Year
- Prepare curriculum aligned lessons for every subject in grade 6 including physical education, music, drama, dance and art
- Create EIPs with considerations on how to support and provide accommodations to students in an online environment
- Use modern learning technologies, learning management systems, and implementation strategies to facilitate student learning
- Create an online learning environment that facilitates collaboration, community and equitable opportunities while being accessible for all students
- Contact and communicate with parents on students progress throughout the year to maintain relationships
- 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade
- Coach: Basketball and Soccer Police Activities League Teams (2 years)
- Grade Level Professional Learning Community (3 years)
- Grade Level Liaison, School-Based Leadership Team (3 years)
- Grade Level Liaison, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Team (2 years)
- Co-Coordinator, King Extended Day Smarter Balanced Assessment Prep Program (1 year)
- Member, Kindness Assembly Committee Member (1 year)
- Adviser of Grade 2 students
- Host of mini fashion show in school
- I learned to be confident and say something in front of many people "impromptu".
- I learned to dealt with different students as well as to their parents.
- Daily lesson planning for grades 1-5 based on strict curriculum
- Daily communication with parents regarding student progress
- Event and International class trip planning to Poland, England, and Malta
PRO TIP
In writing your Elementary Teacher resume, you will no doubt want to list your previous duties - as you should. But steer clear of just listing your duties, instead of your achievements. Make your resume stand out by communicating what you have done, and not merely what the job needed you to do.
Action verbs for your elementary teacher resume
Recommended reads:
Top elementary teacher skills for your resume
Elementary Teacher Resume Skills Section Checklist:
- Match your hard skills to the job description;
- Add keywords to pass applicant tracking systems;
- Don’t list soft skills such as ’teamwork’ – rather, mention how they’ve helped you gain success in some other sections of your Elementary Teacher resume;
- List only skills you actually have, keep lying out of the picture.
Top skills for your elementary teacher resume
Minecraft in classrooms
Word/Excel/Powerpoint (& Google Equivalents)
SalesForce IQ
Campaign Monitor
BenchMark Email
Scratch 3.0
Material-UI
Slack
Mocha
Clojure
Communication
Leardership
Empathy
Problem solving
Team work
Listening
Influencing
Mentoring and coaching
Motivating
Emotional intelligence
PRO TIP
When describing your experience, don’t go too far from its terminology. Recruiters use ATS systems to filter resumes based on them having certain keywords, so make sure you use at least a few keywords mentioned in the job description.
Recommended reads:
Elementary teacher resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your elementary teacher resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have policies about identifying information like photos on your Elementary Teacher resume. Be sure to check all the relevant rules before submitting yours. If you’re in doubt, you can always try contacting the company’s HR department to ask for their policy.
Craft a strong elementary teacher resume summary
Elementary teacher resume summary checklist:
- Your total years of experience
- The industry you’re coming from
- One or two most remarkable accomplishments that have helped you - turn into a great professional
- Short sentences that add value – avoid filler words and phrases
Resume Summary Formula:
PRO TIP
You’re not going to get hired simply because of a good summary or objective. However, your recruiter can bump you up in front of similarly experienced candidates who didn’t demonstrate such passion and drive.
Recommended reads:
Highlight your education, certifications, and courses
What to include in your education and courses sections:
- Your highest education degree – this includes institution, course, and duration
- Certifications and courses that have helped you gain additional expertise
- Awards you’ve received as part of your education
- Entry-level positions only: relevant classes and projects
Top Certifications for your Elementary Teacher Resume

Character Strengths for Elementary School Teachers
A short course in Positive Education

Montessori Language Course (Early Childhood and Elementary)
Step by step video presentations and pdf manuals and resources that will empower you as a Montessori teacher

Montessori Math Course (Early Childhood and Elementary)
Step by step video presentations and pdf manuals and resources that will empower you as a Montessori teacher

Montessori Cosmic Course (Early Childhood and Elementary)
Step by step video presentations and pdf manuals and resources that will empower you as a Montessori teacher

Elementary English Course-English For Beginners 1
Learn how to speak basic English from an American native teacher!
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Drafting a Job-winning Elementary Teacher Resume
When drafting your resume, you can choose between three well-known formats:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Which format you decide to go for depends on two things: your personal preference and how experienced you are.
The reverse-chronological format is ideal for both really experienced people and those who joined the workforce just a couple of years ago. It’s also great if your experience combines different industries and jobs. Here, your most recent position comes at the top of your resume.
The functional skills-based resume format, on the other hand, is ideal for recent graduates or people who have no work experience whatsoever. It’s built around your skills, interests, and expertise. Ultimately, its goal is to show recruiters your biggest strengths and practical skills.
Combination resumes (also known as hybrid resumes) are great for all types of candidates – be they graduates, experienced professionals, or brave career changers. They usually follow a double-column format – one side focuses on your experience, while the other emphasizes your education, skills, interests, and accomplishments.
Here’s our resume format and style checklist:
- Choose a traditional resume font sized 12p;
- Go for standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Match the length of your Elementary Teacher resume with your experience – choose a one-page template if you have less than 10 years of experience, and be careful with two-page templates;
- Send your resume in PDF – in this way, you’ll avoid formatting issues and potential editing from third parties.
And in case you want to go the extra mile, check out our guide for crafting a resume that stands out.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you feel that you don’t have high chances in a particular company, due to lack of relevant experience, then you can still consider using a creative layout. That might help you get noticed and invited for an interview, as most of the other applicants will have boring resume designs.
Other sections worth including in your elementary teacher resume
Including other sections in your resume depends on the company, the position, and, ultimately, the industry. Here are some sections that will help you spice things up:
An elementary teacher resume that stands out
Recruiters look at tens of resumes every day. That’s why helping them remember yours is crucial for landing an interview.
A creative resume can help you show off both your personality and your expertise at the same time.
Creative sections about passions, favorite books, quotes, and even your daily routine are a great way to make your resume feel like a breath of fresh air.
What’s more, it will also point recruiters to the fact that you’re attentive to detail and can think outside the box of Word-generated black and white resumes.
What makes a great elementary teacher resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.