National Occupational Classification (NOC): 41221
Fast Facts
- Average Pay: N/A
- Future Growth: N/A
- Skill Level: N/A
- Employment Size: N/A
- Unemployment: N/A
- Full-time Share: N/A
Sample Job Titles
- Aboriginal school teacher - elementary school
- Elementary school teacher, French as a second language
- French immersion teacher – elementary school
- Kindergarten teacher
- Primary school teacher
- Remedial teacher - elementary school
- Special education teacher - elementary school
- Supply teacher
What do elementary school and kindergarten teachers do?
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers teach basic subjects such as reading, writing and arithmetic or specialized subjects such as English or French as a second language at public and private elementary schools.
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare courses for presentation to students according to approved curriculum
- Teach students using a systematic plan of lessons, discussions, audio-visual presentations and field trips
- Lead students in activities to promote their physical, mental and social development and their school readiness
- Assign and correct homework
- Prepare, administer and correct tests
- Evaluate the progress of students and discuss results with students, parents and school officials
- Identify children’s individual learning needs
- Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help
- Participate in staff meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops
- May supervise teachers’ aides and student teachers.
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers may specialize in such areas as special education or second language instruction.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- 611 Educational services
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Short and Long Term Occupational Projections
Short Term Projections for 2023-2025
The employment outlook will be moderate for elementary school and kindergarten teachers in Newfoundland and Labrador (rating of 3 out of 5) for the 2023-2025 period.
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Long Term Projections for 2023-2032
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers belong to the broader occupational group 4122, 4132 (Secondary and elementary school teachers and educational counsellors). This group is forecast to be balanced (rating of 2.2 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning projected labour supply is expected to meet forecasted job openings.
Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)
Number of Job Postings in 2023
During 2023, there were 148 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 30% | Western: 9% |
| Eastern: 16% | Labrador: 7% |
| Central: 26% | NL-unspecified: 12% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)
Who works as elementary school and kindergarten teachers in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 4,310 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 15% of those employed were Male+ and 85% of those employed were Female+.
Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:
| 15 to 24 | 25 to 54 | 55 to 64 | 65+ |
| 1% | 87% | 10% | 2% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
How much do elementary school and kindergarten teachers make?
Annual Earnings
The median employment income for all elementary school and kindergarten teachers in the reference year 2020 (4,350 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $77,000.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Hourly Earnings
Salary information for elementary school and kindergarten teachers in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $27.47 | $44.71 | $59.62 |
The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
| $25.00 | $41.21 | $54.95 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)
- Responsive Teaching
- Reading Instruction
- Physical Education
- Educational Assessment
- Reflective Practice
- Special Education
- Music Instruction
Source: Lightcast
What training is required?
- A bachelor’s degree in education is required.
- A bachelor’s degree in child development may be required.
- Additional training is required to specialize in special education or second language instruction.
- A provincial teaching certificate is required. Additional certification is required to teach English or French as a second language.
- Membership in a provincial or territorial teachers’ association or federation is usually required.
- Progression to education consultant or school principal is possible with experience.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.