Elementary Education Career Outlook 2010-2011
Elementary Education Programs Available at Bemidji State University:
Major: Elementary Education Teacher Licensure (B.S.)
Endorsements: Preprimary, Mathematics and Social Studies.
Licensures: Preprimary-6th Grade; K-8th, K-6th
Department Website: http://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/departments/professional_education/
Major Highlights:
The teacher is a reflective professional who nurtures the potential of individuals through a knowledge of child and
adolescent development and who addresses the diversity of student needs in a multicultural society. The teacher has the
ability to mesh effectively the methodologies, theories, concepts, and principles upon which the art and science of
education are built. Working from a pedagogical and academic knowledge base, the teacher integrates these elements into
effective teaching to promote growth in cognitive and affective learning. In addition, the teacher, as a life-long learner,
keeps abreast of current trends and research while working with colleagues, administrators, other professionals, and
parents to enhance the educational process now and in the future. The model that forms the basis for the programs is fully
described in the department's Handbook for Education Majors. Students should see their advisors to plan suitable
programs of study. Note that some courses have prerequisites. The majority of courses taken in the first and second year
are in liberal education (42 credits minimum). The Elementary Education major may be taken either with or without an
endorsement area. The major plus the Preprimary Endorsement qualifies for licensure to teach children age three through
sixth grade. The major plus the Social Studies Endorsement qualifies for licensure to teach all subjects in kindergarten
through sixth grade and the content area of Social Studies in middle-level settings (grades 5-8).
Employment Areas:
The "Occupational Outlook Handbook" reports that preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers held
about 2,753,300 jobs in 2010. Of the teachers in those jobs, about 1,655,800 were kindergarten and elementary school
teachers, 641,700 were middle school teachers, and 456,800 were preschool teachers. The majority work in local
government educational services. About 10 percent worked for private schools. Preschool teachers, except special
education, are most often employed in child daycare services (58 percent), religious organizations (17 percent), and public
and private educational services (15 percent). Employment of teachers is geographically distributed much the same as the
population.
Projected Demand for Elementary Education Majors in Minnesota:
MnCareers reports that the outlook for elementary school teachers is good, with about 27,220 currently employed in
Minnesota. Retirement replacements are needed. The median income of elementary teachers in Minnesota is about
$50,990 annually. There are also 10,500 preschool and kindergarten teachers in Minnesota, with a median annual income
of $18.80 per hour. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers the average starting salary of
elementary teachers was $34,290 in 2010-2011.
Projected Demand for Elementary Education Majors Nationwide:
The DISCOVER guidance system reports that the nationwide growth for elementary school teacher majors is growing
moderately, with a 1.6% expected growth rate per year. The average starting salary was $40,000 in 2011. The
"Occupational Outlook Handbook" reports Median annual wages of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary
school teachers ranged from $47,100 to $51,180 in May 2008.
Placement Information for Elementary Education Graduates:
There are many career opportunities for Bemidji State University elementary education graduates, especially for those
students willing to relocate nationally. Of the Bemidji State University 2009-2010 elementary education graduates, 87.7%
reported obtaining related employment within one year of graduation. This does not include students who were not
seeking employment, furthering their education, unavailable, or had unknown status. Elementary education majors earned
starting salaries between $26,000 in Bemidji, MN to $47,000 in Alaska.
A Partial List of Employers Who Have Reported Hiring BSU Elementary Education Graduates
Since 1997: (This list only includes employment within one year of graduation.)
A. McNallan
Academia Cesar Chavez
Ada-Borup Elementary School
Aiea School District
Aitkin School District
Aldine School District
Alexandria School District
Alternative Learning Center
Anoka-Hennepin School District
Appletree Learning Center
Archdeacon Gilfillan Center
Ashby High School
Audubon Science Center
Bagley Elementary School
Balaton Public School
Barnesville Public Schools
Belton ISD
Bemidji School District
Benedict Team Development Pre-School
Benson Public Schools
Bering Strait School District
Bertha-Hewitt School District
Bibb Co. School District
Bi-CAP Caring Hands Child Care
Big Lake School District
Birch Grove Elementary School
Blackduck Elementary School
Blandin Enhancement Center
Bloomington Public Schools
Bondurant-Farrar High School
Brainerd School District
Brevig Mission School
BRIC
Brooklyn Center School District
Bug-O-Ne-Gay-Shig School
Bullhead City School District
C. E. Jacobson Elementary School
Calvary Baptist Christian School
Camelback Academy
Campus Playhouse
Cartwright School District
Cass Lake Elementary School
Cedar Manor Intermediate Center
Cedar Mountain Elementary
Centennial School District #12
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Cherry Creek Presbyterian Preschool
Children’s Home Society
Children’s World
Chisago Lakes Elementary School
Chisholm School District
Christ the King School
Christian Heritage School
Circle of Life School
Clay County Schools-Pine Elementary
Clearbrook-Gonvick School District
Climax-Shelly School District
Columbia Heights School
Columbia Public Schools
Concord Elementary School
Concordia Creative Learning Academy
Preschool Teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Elementary Teacher
Fourth Grade Teacher
Middle School Math Teacher
Learning Resource Teacher
Mathematics Teacher
Seventh Grade Math Teacher
Preschool Teacher
Evaluation Teacher
Sixth Grade Teacher
Teacher
Fifth Grade Teacher/ESL Teacher
Middle School Teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
First Grade Teacher
Pre-School Teacher
Fourth Grade Teacher
Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
First Grade Teacher
Teacher
Sixth/Seventh Grade Math Teacher
Reading Coach
Kindergarten Teacher
Computer Teacher
Elementary Teacher
Special Education Teacher
First Grade Teacher
Elementary Teacher
MMMI Teacher
Elementary Teacher
Elementary Teacher
Fourth Grade Teacher
Sixth Grade Teacher/Coach
Teacher
First Grade Teacher
Teacher
Sixth Grade Teacher
First Grade Teacher
Title 1 Teacher
Fifth Grade Teacher
Eighth Grade Math Teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Preschool Teacher
Pre-School Teacher
Preschool Teacher
Second Grade Elementary Teacher
Title I Teacher
Fifth and Sixth Grade Teacher
Elementary Teacher
Reading/Math Specialist
Kindergarten Teacher
Teacher
Reading/Testing Coordinator/Coach
Title I Teacher
Eighth Grade Social Studies Teacher
Special Education Para-Professional
First/Second Grade Teacher
Bemidji, MN
St Paul, MN
Ada, MN
Aiea, HI
Aitkin, MN
Houston, TX
Alexandria, MN
Brainerd, MN
Coon Rapids, MN
Virginia, MN
Bemidji, MN
Ashby, MN
Albert Lea, MN
Bagley, MN
Balaton, MN
Barnesville, MN
Belton, TX
Bemidji, MN
Duluth, MN
Benson, MN
Unalakleet, AK
Bertha, MN
Macon, GA
Blackduck, MN
Big Lake, MN
Brooklyn Park, MN
Blackduck, MN
Grand Rapids, MN
Bloomington, MN
Ames, IA
Brainerd, MN
Brevig Mission, AK
Bemidji, MN
Brooklyn Center, MN
Cass Lake, MN
Bullhead City, AZ
Rush City, MN
Watertown, WI
Peoria, AZ
Brainerd, MN
Phoenix, AZ
Cass Lake, MN
St Louis Park, MN
Franklin, MN
Lino Lakes, MN
Charlotte, NC
Greenwood Village, CO
St. Paul, MN
Burnsville, MN
Chisago Lakes, MN
Chisholm, MN
Browerville, MN
Steamboat Springs, CO
White Earth, MN
Middleberg, FL
Clearbrook, MN
Climax, MN
Columbia Heights, MN
Columbia, MO
Edina, MN
St. Paul, MN
A Partial List of Employers Who Have Reported Hiring BSU Elementary Education Graduates
Since 1997: (This list only includes employment within one year of graduation.)
Conseil Des Scolaire Catholique
Coolidge Unified School District
Crestview Elementary School
Crosslake Community School
Crosswinds Middle School
Cumberland Road Montessori School
Dayton's Bluff Elementary School
DC Public Schools
Desert Valley Elementary School
Detroit Lakes School District
Digital Advisory and Learning Center
Discovery Club-St. Paul School District
Drayton Public School
Eagle Valley High School
East Grand Forks Head Start Program
East Grand Forks Schools
ECFE-Brainerd
Edgewood Middle School
Elk River School District
Excell Academy Charter School
Falcon Elementary School
Falcon Heights Elementary School
Family Child Development Center
Floodwood School
Florence Unified School District
Forest Lake Area School District
Fort Sam Houston Independent School Dist
Fowler Elementary School
Franklin Middle School
Freshwater Education District
Gary Community Schools
Gilbert School District
Glendale School District
Grace International School
Grand Rapids School District
Great Expectations School
Greenbush Middle River School District
Greenway
Greenway Public Schools
Hastings School District 200
Haverhill Cooperative Middle School
Heartland Christian Academy
Helendale Elementary School
Hibbing High School
Hillsborough Co. Schools
Hinckley Public Schools
Holy Family Catholic School
Holy Nativity Episcopal School
Huntington Learning Center
Independent School District #196
Indus School District
Inter-County Community Council
International School of Capetown
Isle School District
Kernersville Elementary School
Killeen Independent School District
King Elementary School
King of Grace Lutheran School
Lac qui Parle Valley School District
Lake County School District
Lake Region Christian School
English Teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Sixth Grade Teacher
Special Education Paraprofessional
Mathematics Teacher
Montessori Teacher-Grades 1-3
Second Grade Teacher
Teacher
Elementary Teacher
Fourth Grade Teacher
English Teacher/Center Manager
Group Leader/Teacher
Elementary Teacher
Middle School Math/Science Teacher
Head Start Coordinator
Third Grade Teacher
Pre-K Teacher
Mathematics Teacher
Eighth Grade English Teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Fifth Grade Teacher
Fifth Grade Teacher
Pre-School Teacher
First Grade Teacher
First Grade Teacher
Elementary Teacher
Special Education Paraprofessional
Kindergarten Teacher
Reading/Communications Teacher
World Language Instructor
Elementary Teacher
Special Education Teacher
First Grade Teacher
Year 5 Teacher
Title I Teacher
Science & Math Teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Title 1 Teacher
Pre-School Teacher
First Grade Teacher
Eighth Grade Mathematics Teacher
Third Grade Teacher
Fourth Grade Teacher
Teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Seventh/Eighth Grade Reading Teacher
Sixth Grade Teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Teacher
First Grade Summer School Teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Head Start Education
Remedial Teacher
Third Grade Teacher
Elementary Teacher
Seventh Grade Math Teacher
Third Grade Teacher & Tutor
Elementary Teacher
English Teacher
Sixth Grade Reading Teacher
Sixth Grade Teacher
Fort Frances, Ontario
Coolidge, AZ
Cottage Grove, MN
Crosslake, MN
Woodbury, MN
Fayetteville, NC
St Paul, MN
Washington, DC
Glendale, AZ
Detroit Lakes, MN
Nairobi
St. Paul, MN
Drayton, ND
Eagle Bend, MN
East Grand Forks, MN
East Grand Forks, MN
Brainerd, MN
Mounds View, MN
Elk River, MN
Brooklyn Park, MN
Falcon, CO
Falcon Heights, MN
Plymouth, MN
Floodwood, MN
Queen Creek, AZ
Lino Lakes, MN
San Antonio, TX
Phoenix, AZ
Thief River Falls, MN
Staples, MN
Gary, IN
Gilbert, AZ
Glendale, AZ
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Grand Rapids, MN
Grand Marais, MN
Middle River, MN
Coleraine, MN
Marble, MN
Hastings, MN
North Haverhill, NH
Bemidji, MN
Helendale, CA
Hibbing, MN
Tampa, FL
Hinckley, MN
Silver Lake, MN
Panama City, FL
Maple Grove, MN
Eagan, MN
Indus, MN
Bagley, MN
Capetown, South Africa
Isle, MN
Kernersville, NC
Killeen, TX
Deer River, MN
Robbinsdale, MN
Madison, MN
Leesburg, FL
Baxter, MN
A Partial List of Employers Who Have Reported Hiring BSU Elementary Education Graduates
Since 1997: (This list only includes employment within one year of graduation.)
Lake Superior School District 381
Lakes & Pines Headstart
Laporte Schools
Las Vegas School District
Menahga School District
Milaca Public Schools
Minneapolis School District
Minnetonka School District
Monticello School District
Mora School District
Odyssey Academy
Parkview Center School
Ponemah Elementary School
Red Lake School District
Roseau Elementary School
Sacred Heart Area School
Sauk Centre School District
Schoolcraft Learning Community
Sibley East School District
South Koochiching, River School District
South Washington County School District
Southern Boone Co. R-1 School District
St. Louis County School District
St. Philips Catholic School
Stellher Human Services
University Nursery School
Walker School District
West St. Paul Mendota Heights-Egan School
Williston School District
Yang-GELS
Title 1 Teacher
Special Needs Coordinator
Sixth Grade Teacher
Elementary Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
Teacher
Seventh Grade Mathematics Teacher
Third Grade Teacher
Mathematics Teacher
Mathematics Teacher
First/Second Grade Teacher
Third Grade Teacher
Wellness Counselor
Elementary Teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
Title I Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
Elementary Teacher
Literacy Coordinator
First Grade Teacher
Secondary English Teacher
Reading & Mathematics Teacher
Teacher
School Based Behavior Interventionist
Pre-School Teacher
Special Education Paraprofessional
Mathematics Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
English Teacher
Silver Bay, MN
Mora, MN
Laporte, MN
Las Vegas, NV
Menahga, MN
Milaca, MN
Minneapolis, MN
Minnetonka, MN
Monticello, MN
Mora, MN
Brooklyn Center, MN
Roseville, MN
Ponemah, MN
Red Lake, MN
Roseau, MN
Staples, MN
Sauk Centre, MN
Bemidji, MN
Arlington, MN
Birchdale, MN
Cottage Grove, MN
Ashland, MO
Tower, MN
Bemidji, MN
Bemidji, MN
Duluth, MN
Walker, MN
Mendota Heights, MN
Williston, ND
Daejeon, South Korea
Colleges and Universities Where BSU Elementary Education Graduates Have Gone to
Continue Their Education:
Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN
Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN
St Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN
St Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Vermilion Community College, Virginia, MN
Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM
Note 1: Some of the above job/career titles require advanced degrees or specialized training.
Note 2: Degrees alone do not get students jobs. Internships, summer jobs, volunteer work, part-time jobs, work-study
positions, and active participation in student organizations on campus are all ways to become more competitive in a
tight job market.
Note 3: Personal Competencies: it is also recommended that individuals be competent in a variety of communication
methods, and computer skills are a must.
Bibliography:
Annual Graduate Follow-Up Study 1997-2010. Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN (2011)
Bemidji State University Undergraduate Catalog 2011-2012. Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN (2011)
DISCOVER. The American Testing Program, Educational Technology Center, Hunt Valley, MD (2011)
MnCareers/iSeek. Research and Statistics Office, MN Dept. of Economic Security, St. Paul, MN (2011)
Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Dept. of Labor, JIST Publishing Inc., Indianapolis, IN (2010)
For more information, please contact the Career Services Office in 102 Sanford Hall
or call us at 218-755-2038 or toll free at 800-657-3726.