Preschool teachers, except special education salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,990 | $13.94 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Mean (average) | $43,030 | $20.69 |
| 90th percentile | $61,390 | $29.52 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Preschool teachers, except special education pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $28,310 | $21,150 | $47,350 | 7,910 | 1.22 |
| Alaska | $46,130 | $35,090 | $76,950 | 520 | 0.52 |
| Arizona | $36,300 | $31,760 | $47,790 | 9,400 | 0.94 |
| Arkansas | $34,190 | $27,190 | $56,690 | 3,270 | 0.81 |
| California | $47,400 | $37,870 | $65,350 | 55,700 | 0.99 |
| Colorado | $45,500 | $35,820 | $84,700 | 5,210 | 0.59 |
| Connecticut | $45,740 | $35,460 | $80,400 | 5,230 | 1 |
| Delaware | $36,360 | $31,200 | $44,270 | 2,000 | 1.34 |
| District of Columbia | $62,150 | $40,240 | $108,270 | 2,350 | 1.09 |
| Florida | $35,860 | $29,550 | $46,980 | 35,740 | 1.17 |
| Georgia | $43,920 | $28,150 | $77,130 | 16,850 | 1.12 |
| Guam | $22,120 | $20,830 | $37,700 | 160 | 0.78 |
| Hawaii | $48,780 | $37,160 | $64,110 | 1,410 | 0.73 |
| Idaho | $32,800 | $26,500 | $46,950 | 1,010 | 0.38 |
| Illinois | $40,910 | $36,030 | $60,890 | 22,420 | 1.19 |
| Indiana | $36,650 | $28,720 | $50,920 | 7,110 | 0.72 |
| Iowa | $33,830 | $27,730 | $48,390 | 5,910 | 1.23 |
| Kansas | $47,750 | $27,850 | $61,790 | 1,330 | 0.3 |
| Kentucky | $29,780 | $23,490 | $51,760 | 8,520 | 1.38 |
| Louisiana | $38,020 | $23,700 | $59,970 | 3,570 | 0.6 |
| Maine | $43,890 | $36,170 | $60,110 | 1,110 | 0.56 |
| Maryland | $44,600 | $35,760 | $67,510 | 8,020 | 0.94 |
| Massachusetts | $45,890 | $35,890 | $60,440 | 18,710 | 1.67 |
| Michigan | $37,110 | $30,310 | $50,720 | 10,950 | 0.81 |
| Minnesota | $43,430 | $36,060 | $61,190 | 10,320 | 1.14 |
| Mississippi | $36,250 | $20,980 | $53,370 | 3,600 | 1 |
| Missouri | $36,090 | $29,030 | $54,610 | 5,580 | 0.62 |
| Montana | $36,540 | $28,370 | $49,550 | 960 | 0.61 |
| Nebraska | $47,040 | $31,620 | $73,620 | 1,630 | 0.52 |
| Nevada | $38,870 | $30,100 | $64,590 | 2,360 | 0.49 |
| New Hampshire | $39,350 | $34,670 | $51,470 | 2,220 | 1.06 |
| New Jersey | $48,220 | $37,020 | $86,910 | 16,190 | 1.23 |
| New Mexico | $44,070 | $32,270 | $79,560 | 2,490 | 0.93 |
| New York | $46,520 | $36,050 | $75,660 | 23,870 | 0.8 |
| North Carolina | $35,710 | $28,700 | $47,530 | 18,370 | 1.21 |
| North Dakota | $39,720 | $25,990 | $59,560 | 540 | 0.41 |
| Ohio | $35,180 | $27,260 | $48,240 | 19,840 | 1.16 |
| Oklahoma | $31,790 | $23,100 | $58,130 | 7,010 | 1.33 |
| Oregon | $45,140 | $35,680 | $63,550 | 6,300 | 1.04 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,050 | $29,590 | $46,460 | 22,760 | 1.22 |
| Puerto Rico | $32,120 | $22,450 | $44,580 | 2,960 | 1.03 |
| Rhode Island | $36,830 | $31,200 | $46,180 | 1,890 | 1.22 |
| South Carolina | $34,500 | $26,820 | $49,900 | 4,550 | 0.64 |
| South Dakota | $44,500 | $30,980 | $56,370 | 1,470 | 1.05 |
| Tennessee | $34,280 | $27,160 | $64,480 | 5,420 | 0.54 |
| Texas | $33,860 | $26,430 | $49,680 | 41,200 | 0.95 |
| Utah | $35,010 | $28,770 | $47,300 | 3,670 | 0.69 |
| Vermont | $49,730 | $36,650 | $66,020 | 940 | 1.01 |
| Virgin Islands | $44,790 | $22,540 | $55,160 | 100 | 1.03 |
| Virginia | $37,140 | $30,290 | $60,710 | 13,570 | 1.07 |
| Washington | $45,660 | $38,080 | $60,130 | 13,210 | 1.21 |
| West Virginia | $32,480 | $23,520 | $58,810 | 2,190 | 1.01 |
| Wisconsin | $36,160 | $28,530 | $46,090 | 11,330 | 1.25 |
| Wyoming | $29,930 | $23,600 | $58,880 | 1,040 | 1.2 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for preschool teachers, except special education
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 66,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.9%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for preschool teachers, except special education
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Bilingual and Multilingual Education CIP 13.0201
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels CIP 13.1206
- Montessori Teacher Education CIP 13.1207
- Waldorf/Steiner Teacher Education CIP 13.1208
- Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching CIP 13.1209
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching CIP 13.1210
- International Teaching and Learning CIP 13.1212
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor CIP 13.1401
- Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language CIP 13.1402
- Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other CIP 13.1499
- Child Development CIP 19.0706
- Child Care and Support Services Management CIP 19.0708
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
- Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines.
- Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, and changing their diapers.
- Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and needs, determine their priorities for their children, and suggest ways that they can promote learning and development.
- Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Appletree
- Bloomz
- Children's educational software
- ClassDojo
- Common Curriculum
- EasyCBM
- Edmodo
- Email software
- Flipgrid
- Google Classroom
- Google Meet
- Intrado SchoolMessenger
- Nearpod
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Child Development Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher, Group Teacher, Infant Teacher, Montessori Preschool Teacher, Nursery Teacher, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher (Pre-K Teacher), Teacher, Toddler Teacher.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do preschool teachers, except special education make?
The national median annual wage for preschool teachers, except special education was $38,140 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $28,990 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $61,390. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do preschool teachers, except special education need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is preschool teachers, except special education a growing career?
BLS projects employment of preschool teachers, except special education to change +4.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 66,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay preschool teachers, except special education the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($62,150), Vermont ($49,730), Hawaii ($48,780). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.