Preschool Teacher Salary By State: Highest-Paid Preschool Teachers by State [2026]
Research Summary. Following thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the latest insights into preschool teacher salaries across the United States:
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Hawaii boasts the highest preschool teacher salary, averaging $43,575
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Alabama has the lowest preschool teacher salary, averaging $21,021
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The national average salary for preschool teachers stands at $33,582
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On an hourly basis, preschool teachers earn an average of $16.15
For more details, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a crucial factor for job seekers across various demographics, consistently ranking as the top priority. For those considering a career as a preschool teacher, understanding local salary expectations is essential.
Multiple factors influence individual salary potential, yet comprehensive data on average preschool teacher salaries by state is readily available, categorized by experience and seniority. While city salaries may vary slightly from state averages, these figures provide a reliable baseline to gauge earning potential.
As of now, Hawaii holds the top position for preschool teacher salaries.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for preschool teacher salaries:
Let’s explore the complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Preschool Teachers By State
| Rank | State | Average Preschool Teacher Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $43,575 | $34,000 | $55,000 |
| 2 | California | $40,866 | $27,000 | $60,000 |
| 3 | New York | $40,587 | $28,000 | $57,000 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $38,878 | $26,000 | $57,000 |
| 5 | Vermont | $38,135 | $29,000 | $49,000 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $38,125 | $28,000 | $51,000 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $37,724 | $28,000 | $49,000 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $37,409 | $26,000 | $53,000 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $36,776 | $26,000 | $51,000 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $36,010 | $26,000 | $48,000 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $35,882 | $24,000 | $51,000 |
| 12 | Washington | $35,504 | $27,000 | $46,000 |
| 13 | Oregon | $35,145 | $26,000 | $46,000 |
| 14 | Colorado | $34,889 | $25,000 | $48,000 |
| 15 | Texas | $34,524 | $22,000 | $52,000 |
| 16 | Kansas | $34,371 | $24,000 | $48,000 |
| 17 | Virginia | $34,087 | $23,000 | $50,000 |
| 18 | Arizona | $34,075 | $22,000 | $50,000 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $34,016 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 20 | Maryland | $33,939 | $23,000 | $49,000 |
| 21 | Nevada | $33,665 | $23,000 | $48,000 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $33,664 | $24,000 | $45,000 |
| 23 | Maine | $32,169 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $32,046 | $24,000 | $42,000 |
| 25 | Alaska | $31,922 | $27,000 | $36,000 |
| 26 | Illinois | $31,892 | $23,000 | $43,000 |
| 27 | Iowa | $31,342 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $31,190 | $21,000 | $45,000 |
| 29 | Utah | $30,603 | $22,000 | $42,000 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $30,507 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $30,485 | $22,000 | $40,000 |
| 32 | Michigan | $30,371 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
| 33 | Missouri | $30,315 | $21,000 | $42,000 |
| 34 | Montana | $29,973 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $28,574 | $19,000 | $42,000 |
| 36 | Idaho | $28,574 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $28,472 | $19,000 | $41,000 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $28,435 | $19,000 | $40,000 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $28,003 | $18,000 | $42,000 |
| 40 | Ohio | $27,919 | $19,000 | $39,000 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $27,789 | $18,000 | $41,000 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $27,446 | $19,000 | $37,000 |
| 43 | Indiana | $27,252 | $19,000 | $38,000 |
| 44 | Delaware | $27,187 | $18,000 | $39,000 |
| 45 | Georgia | $26,336 | $17,000 | $39,000 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $26,298 | $18,000 | $38,000 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $24,775 | $16,000 | $36,000 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $24,667 | $16,000 | $37,000 |
| 49 | Florida | $24,137 | $16,000 | $36,000 |
| 50 | Alabama | $21,021 | $14,000 | $31,000 |
Methodology: Preschool Teacher Salary By State
To accurately present preschool teacher pay by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reputable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM, alongside actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team calculates a weighted average from these sources to provide an accurate average salary for preschool teachers by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary data for preschool teachers, identifying the state with the highest salary as the top-ranking state.
Preschool Teacher Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for preschool teachers?
The highest-paid state for preschool teachers is Hawaii with an average salary of $43,575 per year.
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What city pays preschool teachers the most?
San Jose, CA offers the highest average salary for preschool teachers at $41,428 per year.
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What is the worst state for preschool teachers?
The state with the lowest average salary for preschool teachers is Alabama, averaging $21,021 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
