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Child development teacher salary
Average child development teacher salary
$16.04
Understanding Child Development Teacher Salaries
The role of a Child Development Teacher is vital in nurturing young minds and laying the foundation for their educational journey. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is around $33,367 annually, equating to approximately $16 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on location, experience, and the specific educational institution.
In terms of geographical differences, states like California and New York often provide higher compensation due to their higher costs of living and demand for quality early education. Major cities such as New York City and Los Angeles frequently rank among the highest-paying locations for child development teachers.
When considering a career in this field, it’s essential to evaluate not only the average salary but also the opportunities for growth and advancement. Many teachers find that additional certifications and experience lead to higher positions within educational institutions, further enhancing their earning potential. By staying informed about salary trends and geographic variances, aspiring child development teachers can navigate their career paths more effectively.
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Where can a Child Development Teacher earn more?
Average child development teacher salary by state
The highest-paying states for child development teachers are Maryland, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. The lowest average child development teacher salary states are Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for child development teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $38,601 | $18.56 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $38,782 | $18.65 |
| 3 | Michigan | $35,749 | $17.19 |
| 4 | Vermont | $40,229 | $19.34 |
| 5 | Maryland | $41,403 | $19.91 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $33,808 | $16.25 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $41,195 | $19.81 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $46,614 | $22.41 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $40,723 | $19.58 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $39,029 | $18.76 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $35,485 | $17.06 |
| 12 | Alaska | $34,787 | $16.72 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $32,799 | $15.77 |
| 14 | Montana | $33,518 | $16.11 |
| 15 | Iowa | $33,372 | $16.04 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $32,476 | $15.61 |
| 17 | New York | $38,323 | $18.42 |
| 18 | Texas | $31,911 | $15.34 |
| 19 | California | $40,262 | $19.36 |
| 20 | Kansas | $31,294 | $15.05 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $33,782 | $16.24 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $30,736 | $14.78 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $30,646 | $14.73 |
| 24 | Colorado | $35,294 | $16.97 |
| 25 | Indiana | $30,871 | $14.84 |
| 26 | Maine | $33,789 | $16.24 |
| 27 | Nevada | $29,718 | $14.29 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $31,901 | $15.34 |
| 29 | Arizona | $28,956 | $13.92 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $29,400 | $14.13 |
| 31 | Oregon | $33,718 | $16.21 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $30,353 | $14.59 |
| 33 | Washington | $33,200 | $15.96 |
| 34 | Missouri | $30,163 | $14.50 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $27,841 | $13.39 |
| 36 | Virginia | $31,209 | $15.00 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $26,839 | $12.90 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $25,432 | $12.23 |
| 39 | Illinois | $28,902 | $13.90 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $26,012 | $12.51 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $28,445 | $13.68 |
| 42 | Utah | $29,529 | $14.20 |
| 43 | Ohio | $26,138 | $12.57 |
| 44 | Delaware | $27,300 | $13.13 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $27,244 | $13.10 |
| 46 | Florida | $21,269 | $10.23 |
| 47 | Idaho | $25,853 | $12.43 |
| 48 | Georgia | $24,789 | $11.92 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $24,822 | $11.93 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $22,407 | $10.77 |
| 51 | Alabama | $19,416 | $9.33 |
Highest paying cities for child development teachers
The highest-paying cities for child development teachers are Redwood City, CA, Baltimore, MD, and Minneapolis, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood City, CA | $42,449 | $20.41 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $41,688 | $20.04 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $38,818 | $18.66 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $38,336 | $18.43 |
| 5 | Lansing, MI | $35,762 | $17.19 |
| 6 | Lubbock, TX | $33,968 | $16.33 |
| 7 | Eugene, OR | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| 8 | Allentown, PA | $33,219 | $15.97 |
| 9 | Manhattan, KS | $31,943 | $15.36 |
| 10 | Charlottesville, VA | $31,323 | $15.06 |
| 11 | Columbia, MO | $30,405 | $14.62 |
| 12 | Ogden, UT | $29,578 | $14.22 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City, OK | $25,436 | $12.23 |
| 14 | Gainesville, FL | $21,462 | $10.32 |
| 15 | Birmingham, AL | $19,500 | $9.38 |
Child development teacher salary details
A child development teacher's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a child development teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| Average | $33,367 | $2,781 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Highest paying child development teacher jobs
The highest paying types of child development teachers are head teacher, certified teacher, and kindergarten teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Aide | $29,480 | $2,457 | $14.17 | 106,207 |
| Infant And Toddler Teacher | $29,606 | $2,467 | $14.23 | 63,094 |
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Pre-K Teacher | $40,301 | $3,358 | $19.38 | 60,464 |
| Preschool Teacher | $33,582 | $2,798 | $16.14 | 55,298 |
| Head Teacher | $51,715 | $4,310 | $24.86 | 73,756 |
Top companies hiring child development teachers now:
Which companies pay child development teachers the most?
Child development teacher salaries at Google and Montgomery County Public Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average child development teacher salary at companies like University of California, Berkeley and Solana Beach School District are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $53,542 | $25.74 | |
| 2 | Montgomery County Public Schools | $48,859 | $23.49 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley | $48,471 | $23.30 |
| 4 | Solana Beach School District | $45,573 | $21.91 |
| 5 | UC Merced | $45,021 | $21.64 |
| 6 | UC Santa Barbara | $44,962 | $21.62 |
| 7 | Kellogg Elementary | $44,266 | $21.28 |
| 8 | New York State Restaurant Association | $42,700 | $20.53 |
| 9 | Culver City Unified School District | $40,565 | $19.50 |
| 10 | Santa Monica High School | $40,017 | $19.24 |
| 11 | Wilder Foundation | $39,988 | $19.23 |
| 12 | Redondo Beach Unified School District | $39,226 | $18.86 |
| 13 | Los Angeles Trade-Technical College | $37,778 | $18.16 |
| 14 | Orange Unified School District | $36,519 | $17.56 |
| 15 | Children's Hospital Los Angeles | $36,411 | $17.51 |
| 16 | Southwest Airlines | $35,865 | $17.24 |
| 17 | Patagonia | $35,397 | $17.02 |
| 18 | Kern Community College District | $35,348 | $16.99 |
| 19 | University Of Minnesota Physicians | $35,238 | $16.94 |
| 20 | Kaiser Permanente | $34,116 | $16.40 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Child development teacher salary trends
The average child development teacher salary has risen by $5,549 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average child development teacher earned $27,818 annually, but today, they earn $33,367 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for child development teachers over the last decade.
Compare child development teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average child development teacher salary over time
Compare child development teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Child development teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,400 | $16.04 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $31,900 | $15.33 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $31,100 | $14.96 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $30,300 | $14.56 | +0.7% |
| 2021 | $30,100 | $14.46 | +0.8% |
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