Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$28,990
- 25th Percentile — Junior$34,530
- 50th Percentile — Median$38,140
- 75th Percentile — Senior$47,550
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$61,390
The top 10% of Preschool Teachers earn $61,390 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $28,990, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $68,100 | +58.3% |
| New Jersey | $56,770 | +31.9% |
| Colorado | $53,270 | +23.8% |
| Vermont | $52,520 | +22.1% |
| New York | $51,930 | +20.7% |
| California | $51,190 | +19.0% |
| Connecticut | $50,830 | +18.1% |
| Alaska | $50,670 | +17.8% |
| Hawaii | $50,670 | +17.8% |
| New Mexico | $50,510 | +17.4% |
| Nebraska | $50,150 | +16.5% |
| Massachusetts | $48,460 | +12.6% |
| Washington | $48,140 | +11.9% |
| Oregon | $48,130 | +11.9% |
| Georgia | $47,920 | +11.4% |
| Maryland | $47,470 | +10.3% |
| Kansas | $46,580 | +8.3% |
| Maine | $45,350 | +5.4% |
| Illinois | $45,150 | +4.9% |
| Minnesota | $45,130 | +4.9% |
| Nevada | $42,970 | -0.1% |
| Virginia | $42,490 | -1.3% |
| South Dakota | $42,440 | -1.4% |
| New Hampshire | $41,950 | -2.5% |
| North Dakota | $41,620 | -3.3% |
| Louisiana | $41,280 | -4.1% |
| Tennessee | $41,170 | -4.3% |
| Rhode Island | $39,850 | -7.4% |
| Michigan | $39,730 | -7.7% |
| Missouri | $39,030 | -9.3% |
| Arizona | $38,800 | -9.8% |
| Montana | $38,440 | -10.7% |
| Indiana | $38,240 | -11.1% |
| Arkansas | $38,180 | -11.3% |
| West Virginia | $37,650 | -12.5% |
| North Carolina | $37,340 | -13.2% |
| Wyoming | $37,330 | -13.2% |
| Oklahoma | $37,310 | -13.3% |
| Pennsylvania | $37,250 | -13.4% |
| Delaware | $37,240 | -13.5% |
| Florida | $37,040 | -13.9% |
| Ohio | $36,500 | -15.2% |
| Wisconsin | $36,500 | -15.2% |
| Utah | $36,450 | -15.3% |
| South Carolina | $36,190 | -15.9% |
| Texas | $35,970 | -16.4% |
| Iowa | $35,760 | -16.9% |
| Idaho | $35,650 | -17.2% |
| Mississippi | $35,500 | -17.5% |
| Kentucky | $35,400 | -17.7% |
| Alabama | $31,160 | -27.6% |
What Factors Affect Preschool Teachers Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Preschool Teachers is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $68,100, while Alabama pays $31,160 — a gap of $36,940 per year.
The middle half of Preschool Teachers earn between $34,530 and $47,550 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,990, while the top 10% earn more than $61,390.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- Elementary School Teachers $72,650/yr United States +68.8% vs this role
- Secondary School Teachers $76,320/yr United States +77.4% vs this role
- Middle School Teachers $72,030/yr United States +67.4% vs this role
- Kindergarten Teachers $69,370/yr United States +61.2% vs this role
- Special Education Teachers $79,750/yr United States +85.3% vs this role
- Business Professors $114,720/yr United States +166.6% vs this role
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States +135.7% vs this role
- Nurse Practitioners $137,300/yr United States +219.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Preschool Teachers?
The average salary for Preschool Teachers in the United States is $43,030 per year, with a median of $38,140.
What is the starting salary for Preschool Teachers?
Entry-level Preschool Teachers typically earn between $28,990 and $34,530 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Preschool Teachers the most?
District of Columbia pays Preschool Teachers the most at $68,100 per year on average, followed by New Jersey ($56,770) and Colorado ($53,270).
How much do Preschool Teachers make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $43,030, Preschool Teachers earn approximately $20.69 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Preschool Teachers a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 478,780 Preschool Teachers jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $43,030 and a median of $38,140 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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