Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education · Washington

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Washington

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Washington earn a median annual wage of $45,660 —19.7% above the national median of $38,140. That ranks WA #12 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$45,660
Median hourly
$21.95
Entry level (P10)
$38,080
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$60,130
90th percentile
Employment
13,210
3.7 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+19.7%
U.S. $38,140

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$38,080
$42,800
$45,660
$48,490
$38,080$45,660$60,130
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $45,660.

Employment is 1.21× as concentrated as the national average, making Washington a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for preschool teachers, except special education

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Washington is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$62,150$29.882,3501.09
2Vermont$49,730$23.919401.01
3Hawaii$48,780$23.451,4100.73
4New Jersey$48,220$23.1916,1901.23
5Kansas$47,750$22.961,3300.30
6California$47,400$22.7955,7000.99
7Nebraska$47,040$22.621,6300.52
8New York$46,520$22.3723,8700.80
9Alaska$46,130$22.185200.52
10Massachusetts$45,890$22.0618,7101.67

Related occupations in Washington

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Washington.

Frequently asked questions

How much do preschool teachers, except special education make in Washington?

The median annual wage for preschool teachers, except special education in Washington is $45,660, or $21.95 per hour. That is 19.7% above the national median of $38,140.

What is the entry-level preschool teachers, except special education salary in Washington?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $38,080 per year ($18.31/hour). The 25th percentile is $42,800.

How many people work as preschool teachers, except special education in Washington?

About 13,210 people work in this occupation in Washington, or 3.7 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Washington a good state for preschool teachers, except special education?

Washington ranks #12 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.21x as concentrated as the national average, making Washington a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays preschool teachers, except special education the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $62,150 per year, followed by Vermont ($49,730) and Hawaii ($48,780).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes