Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for preschool teachers, except special education is $38,140, or $18.34 per hour. About 478,780 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $62,150 in District of Columbia to $28,310 in Alabama.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $62,150 | $29.88 | 2,350 | 1.09 |
| 2 | Vermont | $49,730 | $23.91 | 940 | 1.01 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $48,780 | $23.45 | 1,410 | 0.73 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $48,220 | $23.19 | 16,190 | 1.23 |
| 5 | Kansas | $47,750 | $22.96 | 1,330 | 0.30 |
| 6 | California | $47,400 | $22.79 | 55,700 | 0.99 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $47,040 | $22.62 | 1,630 | 0.52 |
| 8 | New York | $46,520 | $22.37 | 23,870 | 0.80 |
| 9 | Alaska | $46,130 | $22.18 | 520 | 0.52 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $45,890 | $22.06 | 18,710 | 1.67 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $45,740 | $21.99 | 5,230 | 1.00 |
| 12 | Washington | $45,660 | $21.95 | 13,210 | 1.21 |
| 13 | Colorado | $45,500 | $21.87 | 5,210 | 0.59 |
| 14 | Oregon | $45,140 | $21.70 | 6,300 | 1.04 |
| 15 | Maryland | $44,600 | $21.44 | 8,020 | 0.94 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $44,500 | $21.39 | 1,470 | 1.05 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $44,070 | $21.19 | 2,490 | 0.93 |
| 18 | Georgia | $43,920 | $21.12 | 16,850 | 1.12 |
| 19 | Maine | $43,890 | $21.10 | 1,110 | 0.56 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $43,430 | $20.88 | 10,320 | 1.14 |
| 21 | Illinois | $40,910 | $19.67 | 22,420 | 1.19 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $39,720 | $19.10 | 540 | 0.41 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $39,350 | $18.92 | 2,220 | 1.06 |
| 24 | Nevada | $38,870 | $18.69 | 2,360 | 0.49 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $38,020 | $18.28 | 3,570 | 0.60 |
| 26 | Virginia | $37,140 | $17.86 | 13,570 | 1.07 |
| 27 | Michigan | $37,110 | $17.84 | 10,950 | 0.81 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $36,830 | $17.71 | 1,890 | 1.22 |
| 29 | Indiana | $36,650 | $17.62 | 7,110 | 0.72 |
| 30 | Montana | $36,540 | $17.57 | 960 | 0.61 |
| 31 | Delaware | $36,360 | $17.48 | 2,000 | 1.34 |
| 32 | Arizona | $36,300 | $17.45 | 9,400 | 0.94 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $36,250 | $17.43 | 3,600 | 1.00 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $36,160 | $17.39 | 11,330 | 1.25 |
| 35 | Missouri | $36,090 | $17.35 | 5,580 | 0.62 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $36,050 | $17.33 | 22,760 | 1.22 |
| 37 | Florida | $35,860 | $17.24 | 35,740 | 1.17 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $35,710 | $17.17 | 18,370 | 1.21 |
| 39 | Ohio | $35,180 | $16.91 | 19,840 | 1.16 |
| 40 | Utah | $35,010 | $16.83 | 3,670 | 0.69 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $34,500 | $16.59 | 4,550 | 0.64 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $34,280 | $16.48 | 5,420 | 0.54 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $34,190 | $16.44 | 3,270 | 0.81 |
| 44 | Texas | $33,860 | $16.28 | 41,200 | 0.95 |
| 45 | Iowa | $33,830 | $16.26 | 5,910 | 1.23 |
| 46 | Idaho | $32,800 | $15.77 | 1,010 | 0.38 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $32,480 | $15.62 | 2,190 | 1.01 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $31,790 | $15.29 | 7,010 | 1.33 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $29,930 | $14.39 | 1,040 | 1.20 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $29,780 | $14.32 | 8,520 | 1.38 |
| 51 | Alabama | $28,310 | $13.61 | 7,910 | 1.22 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do preschool teachers, except special education make?
The median annual wage for preschool teachers, except special education in the United States is $38,140, or $18.34 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $28,990, and the top 10% earn $61,390.
How many preschool teachers, except special education are employed in the U.S.?
About 478,780 people work as preschool teachers, except special education nationwide.
Which state pays preschool teachers, except special education the most?
District of Columbia pays the most at a median of $62,150, followed by Vermont ($49,730) and Hawaii ($48,780).
Which state pays preschool teachers, except special education the least?
Alabama has the lowest median at $28,310.
Where are preschool teachers, except special education jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Massachusetts at 1.67×.