Preschool Teacher Salary by State
BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS occupation: SOC 25-2011 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Preschool Teachers earned a median $38,140 a year ($18.34 an hour) in May 2025 (SOC 25-2011 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education).
The middle half earned between $34,530 and $47,550.
All preschool teachers except special education, wage-and-salary workers in every setting (childcare centers, schools and other programs).
Annual figures are BLS hourly wages × 2,080 hours. OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only, so it leaves out the self-employed, workers in private households, overtime pay and most bonuses.
How pay spreads across Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,990 | $13.94 |
| 25th | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| 50th (median) | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| 75th | $47,550 | $22.86 |
| 90th | $61,390 | $29.52 |
| Mean (average) | $43,030 | $20.69 |
SOC 25-2011 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education: 478,780 wage-and-salary jobs, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Pay by employer setting
| Employer setting (BLS) | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Local government schools | $61,300 | — |
| Elementary and secondary schools (all ownerships) | $56,750 | $27.29 |
| Private elementary and secondary schools | $44,290 | — |
| Child care services (NAICS 6244) | $36,850 | $17.72 |
Median wage for SOC 25-2011 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education by industry, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Preschool Teacher Salary by State
Median annual wage for SOC 25-2011 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in each state, BLS OEWS May 2025, alphabetical. "vs. U.S." compares the state median with the national median of $38,140; it is not adjusted for living costs.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th–90th | Jobs | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $28,310 | $13.61 | $21,150–$47,350 | 7,910 | −26% |
| Alaska | $46,130 | $22.18 | $35,090–$76,950 | 520 | +21% |
| Arizona | $36,300 | $17.45 | $31,760–$47,790 | 9,400 | −5% |
| Arkansas | $34,190 | $16.44 | $27,190–$56,690 | 3,270 | −10% |
| California | $47,400 | $22.79 | $37,870–$65,350 | 55,700 | +24% |
| Colorado | $45,500 | $21.87 | $35,820–$84,700 | 5,210 | +19% |
| Connecticut | $45,740 | $21.99 | $35,460–$80,400 | 5,230 | +20% |
| Delaware | $36,360 | $17.48 | $31,200–$44,270 | 2,000 | −5% |
| District of Columbia | $62,150 | $29.88 | $40,240–$108,270 | 2,350 | +63% |
| Florida | $35,860 | $17.24 | $29,550–$46,980 | 35,740 | −6% |
| Georgia | $43,920 | $21.12 | $28,150–$77,130 | 16,850 | +15% |
| Hawaii | $48,780 | $23.45 | $37,160–$64,110 | 1,410 | +28% |
| Idaho | $32,800 | $15.77 | $26,500–$46,950 | 1,010 | −14% |
| Illinois | $40,910 | $19.67 | $36,030–$60,890 | 22,420 | +7% |
| Indiana | $36,650 | $17.62 | $28,720–$50,920 | 7,110 | −4% |
| Iowa | $33,830 | $16.26 | $27,730–$48,390 | 5,910 | −11% |
| Kansas | $47,750 | $22.96 | $27,850–$61,790 | 1,330 | +25% |
| Kentucky | $29,780 | $14.32 | $23,490–$51,760 | 8,520 | −22% |
| Louisiana | $38,020 | $18.28 | $23,700–$59,970 | 3,570 | −0% |
| Maine | $43,890 | $21.10 | $36,170–$60,110 | 1,110 | +15% |
| Maryland | $44,600 | $21.44 | $35,760–$67,510 | 8,020 | +17% |
| Massachusetts | $45,890 | $22.06 | $35,890–$60,440 | 18,710 | +20% |
| Michigan | $37,110 | $17.84 | $30,310–$50,720 | 10,950 | −3% |
| Minnesota | $43,430 | $20.88 | $36,060–$61,190 | 10,320 | +14% |
| Mississippi | $36,250 | $17.43 | $20,980–$53,370 | 3,600 | −5% |
| Missouri | $36,090 | $17.35 | $29,030–$54,610 | 5,580 | −5% |
| Montana | $36,540 | $17.57 | $28,370–$49,550 | 960 | −4% |
| Nebraska | $47,040 | $22.62 | $31,620–$73,620 | 1,630 | +23% |
| Nevada | $38,870 | $18.69 | $30,100–$64,590 | 2,360 | +2% |
| New Hampshire | $39,350 | $18.92 | $34,670–$51,470 | 2,220 | +3% |
| New Jersey | $48,220 | $23.19 | $37,020–$86,910 | 16,190 | +26% |
| New Mexico | $44,070 | $21.19 | $32,270–$79,560 | 2,490 | +16% |
| New York | $46,520 | $22.37 | $36,050–$75,660 | 23,870 | +22% |
| North Carolina | $35,710 | $17.17 | $28,700–$47,530 | 18,370 | −6% |
| North Dakota | $39,720 | $19.10 | $25,990–$59,560 | 540 | +4% |
| Ohio | $35,180 | $16.91 | $27,260–$48,240 | 19,840 | −8% |
| Oklahoma | $31,790 | $15.29 | $23,100–$58,130 | 7,010 | −17% |
| Oregon | $45,140 | $21.70 | $35,680–$63,550 | 6,300 | +18% |
| Pennsylvania | $36,050 | $17.33 | $29,590–$46,460 | 22,760 | −5% |
| Rhode Island | $36,830 | $17.71 | $31,200–$46,180 | 1,890 | −3% |
| South Carolina | $34,500 | $16.59 | $26,820–$49,900 | 4,550 | −10% |
| South Dakota | $44,500 | $21.39 | $30,980–$56,370 | 1,470 | +17% |
| Tennessee | $34,280 | $16.48 | $27,160–$64,480 | 5,420 | −10% |
| Texas | $33,860 | $16.28 | $26,430–$49,680 | 41,200 | −11% |
| Utah | $35,010 | $16.83 | $28,770–$47,300 | 3,670 | −8% |
| Vermont | $49,730 | $23.91 | $36,650–$66,020 | 940 | +30% |
| Virginia | $37,140 | $17.86 | $30,290–$60,710 | 13,570 | −3% |
| Washington | $45,660 | $21.95 | $38,080–$60,130 | 13,210 | +20% |
| West Virginia | $32,480 | $15.62 | $23,520–$58,810 | 2,190 | −15% |
| Wisconsin | $36,160 | $17.39 | $28,530–$46,090 | 11,330 | −5% |
| Wyoming | $29,930 | $14.39 | $23,600–$58,880 | 1,040 | −22% |
Job outlook
BLS projects preschool teacher employment to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with about 66,700 openings a year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (Occupational Outlook Handbook), SOC 25-2011 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education.
Pay by classroom role
BLS publishes wages by occupation, not job title.
Only a few childcare titles are a BLS occupation; most borrow a broader or related occupation, and several have no BLS figure at all.
Compare figures with the same basis only.
| Role | Median shown | What the number is |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Teacher | $34,980 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 39-9011) |
| Preschool Teacher | $38,140 | BLS occupation (SOC 25-2011) |
| Infant Teacher | $34,980 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 39-9011) |
| Toddler Teacher | $34,980 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 39-9011) |
| Pre-K Teacher | $38,140 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 25-2011) |
| Assistant Teacher | $36,780 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 25-9045) |
| Teacher Aide | $36,780 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 25-9045) |
| Floater Teacher | $34,980 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 39-9011) |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 | BLS occupation (SOC 39-9011) |
| Head Start Teacher | $38,140 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 25-2011) |
| Early Head Start Teacher | $34,980 | Related occupation (proxy) (SOC 39-9011) |
| Montessori Teacher | $38,140 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 25-2011) |
| School-Age Teacher | $36,560 | Related occupation (proxy) (SOC 39-9032) |
| Early Childhood Special Education Teacher | $64,830 | BLS occupation (SOC 25-2051) |
| Early Intervention Specialist | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Childcare Substitute | $34,980 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 39-9011) |
| Child and Youth Program Assistant | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Transitional Kindergarten Teacher | $62,680 | Related occupation (proxy) (SOC 25-2012) |
Preschool Teacher salary questions
01How much do preschool teachers make a year?
The median annual wage for preschool teachers, except special education (SOC 25-2011) was $38,140 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS). Half earned more and half earned less. The 10th percentile was $28,990 and the 90th percentile $61,390.
02How much do preschool teachers make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $18.34 in May 2025. BLS converts between hourly and annual figures at 2,080 hours a year, so this is the same median per hour, before overtime or bonuses.
03Which state pays preschool teachers the most?
District of Columbia had the highest median in May 2025 at $62,150. Alabama had the lowest at $28,310. These are not adjusted for living costs; the state table above lists every state BLS published.
04What is the average preschool teacher salary?
The mean (average) annual wage was $43,030 in May 2025, above the $38,140 median because a smaller number of high earners pull the average up. The median is the better guide to a typical salary.
05Do public school preschool teachers earn more?
Yes. The May 2025 median was $56,750 for preschool teachers in elementary and secondary schools and $61,300 in local government schools, versus $36,850 in child care services.
06Do these figures include preschool special education teachers?
No. BLS counts them as a separate occupation (SOC 25-2051), published as annual pay only, with a median of $64,830.