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The average salary for a Montessori preschool teacher in the United States is approximately $43,376 per year, translating to about $21 per hour. This figure can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific preschool’s funding. For instance, Montessori teachers in states like California and New York often earn more due to higher living costs and demand for quality early education.
Salary estimates indicate that certain states offer significantly higher compensation for Montessori teachers. For example, states like California, New York, and Massachusetts typically provide salaries above the national average. Conversely, teachers in states with lower costs of living may earn less but can still enjoy fulfilling careers in leading educational environments.
Montessori preschool teachers can enhance their earning potential by gaining additional qualifications, such as Montessori certification or advanced degrees in education. This can open doors to higher-paying positions within the Montessori framework, including administrative roles or specialized educational programs. The demand for skilled educators in this approach to learning continues to grow, providing ample opportunities for passionate individuals.
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The average montessori preschool teacher salary in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Vermont are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average montessori preschool teacher salary states are Louisiana, Georgia, and Idaho.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $54,507 | $26.21 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $49,488 | $23.79 |
| 3 | Vermont | $52,467 | $25.22 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $51,746 | $24.88 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $47,276 | $22.73 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $61,346 | $29.49 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $54,349 | $26.13 |
| 8 | Michigan | $46,456 | $22.33 |
| 9 | New York | $50,815 | $24.43 |
| 10 | Illinois | $46,468 | $22.34 |
| 11 | Colorado | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $44,908 | $21.59 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $42,251 | $20.31 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $46,705 | $22.45 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $43,361 | $20.85 |
| 16 | Montana | $41,513 | $19.96 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $42,117 | $20.25 |
| 18 | Texas | $43,288 | $20.81 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $40,793 | $19.61 |
| 20 | Iowa | $42,292 | $20.33 |
| 21 | Maine | $43,803 | $21.06 |
| 22 | Indiana | $40,331 | $19.39 |
| 23 | California | $47,948 | $23.05 |
| 24 | Alaska | $42,153 | $20.27 |
| 25 | Kansas | $40,389 | $19.42 |
| 26 | Washington | $45,359 | $21.81 |
| 27 | Nevada | $37,618 | $18.09 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $47,528 | $22.85 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $40,758 | $19.60 |
| 30 | Arizona | $37,234 | $17.90 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $39,958 | $19.21 |
| 32 | Oregon | $41,984 | $20.18 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $40,161 | $19.31 |
| 34 | Virginia | $40,896 | $19.66 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $37,955 | $18.25 |
| 36 | Missouri | $39,122 | $18.81 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $38,982 | $18.74 |
| 38 | Delaware | $36,059 | $17.34 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $37,266 | $17.92 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $34,476 | $16.57 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $35,660 | $17.14 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $34,728 | $16.70 |
| 43 | Idaho | $31,941 | $15.36 |
| 44 | Utah | $36,403 | $17.50 |
| 45 | Ohio | $34,305 | $16.49 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $33,240 | $15.98 |
| 47 | Georgia | $32,455 | $15.60 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $33,365 | $16.04 |
| 49 | Florida | $25,681 | $12.35 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $30,102 | $14.47 |
| 51 | Alabama | $25,721 | $12.37 |
The highest-paying cities for montessori preschool teachers are Kendall Park, NJ, New York, NY, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kendall Park, NJ | $51,582 | $24.80 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $50,832 | $24.44 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $49,538 | $23.82 |
| 4 | Palo Alto, CA | $49,472 | $23.78 |
| 5 | Berkeley, CA | $49,458 | $23.78 |
| 6 | Denair, CA | $48,960 | $23.54 |
| 7 | Fullerton, CA | $47,324 | $22.75 |
| 8 | Anaheim, CA | $47,287 | $22.73 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $46,645 | $22.43 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $46,535 | $22.37 |
| 11 | Parker, CO | $46,523 | $22.37 |
| 12 | Naperville, IL | $46,515 | $22.36 |
| 13 | Southgate, MI | $46,424 | $22.32 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $46,195 | $22.21 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $45,551 | $21.90 |
| 16 | Bellevue, WA | $45,506 | $21.88 |
| 17 | Kennett Square, PA | $43,096 | $20.72 |
| 18 | Bridgeville, PA | $41,720 | $20.06 |
| 19 | Katy, TX | $41,491 | $19.95 |
| 20 | Little Rock, AR | $39,527 | $19.00 |
A montessori preschool teacher's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $61,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 75th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| Average | $43,376 | $3,615 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
The highest paying types of montessori preschool teachers are head teacher, teacher, and pre-k teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floater | $31,721 | $2,643 | $15.25 | 6,071 |
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Head Start Teacher | $33,865 | $2,822 | $16.28 | 67,747 |
| Infant And Toddler Teacher | $29,606 | $2,467 | $14.23 | 63,094 |
| Head Teacher | $51,715 | $4,310 | $24.86 | 73,756 |
| Lead Teacher | $33,652 | $2,804 | $16.18 | 56,131 |
Top companies hiring montessori preschool teachers now:
Montessori preschool teacher salaries at Rowland Hall-st. Mark's School and Eton Academy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average montessori preschool teacher salary at companies like The Montessori School - Wilton and The American International School Muscat are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rowland Hall-st. Mark's School | $67,863 | $32.63 |
| 2 | Eton Academy | $50,486 | $24.27 |
| 3 | The Montessori School - Wilton | $49,183 | $23.65 |
| 4 | The American International School Muscat | $47,244 | $22.71 |
| 5 | Shelton School District | $45,124 | $21.69 |
| 6 | Keystone Montessori | $44,693 | $21.49 |
| 7 | Montessori Education Ctr | $41,065 | $19.74 |
| 8 | Wayne RESA | $38,755 | $18.63 |
| 9 | Learning Care Group | $38,066 | $18.30 |
| 10 | Early Learning Institute | $37,646 | $18.10 |
| 11 | American Montessori Society | $36,630 | $17.61 |
| 12 | North Country School | $30,801 | $14.81 |
The average montessori preschool teacher salary has risen by $7,213 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average montessori preschool teacher earned $36,163 annually, but today, they earn $43,376 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for montessori preschool teachers over the last decade.
Compare montessori preschool teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare montessori preschool teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,400 | $20.85 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $41,500 | $19.93 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $40,500 | $19.45 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $39,400 | $18.93 | +0.7% |
| 2021 | $39,100 | $18.80 | +0.8% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laughter Educare | Fremont Montessori Preschool High Teacher Opening NOW | Fremont, CA | 06/10/2025 | $41,740 |
| Spanish for Toddlers | Montessori Preschool Teacher | Detroit, MI | 06/10/2025 | $35,479 |
| Boulder Valley Public Schools | Paraeducator-Preschool | Boulder, CO | 05/29/2025 | $48,001 |
| Fargo Public Schools | Paraeducator Preschool Even Start | Fargo, ND | 05/28/2025 | $37,691 |
| Xplor Education | Montessori Preschool Assistant Teacher (Ages) | Hawthorne, CA | 05/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Montessori Educations Center of The Rockies | Fairview Montessori School | Louisville, KY | 05/20/2025 | $39,653 |
| Charleston County School District | SY-TA Montessori Primary | Cope, SC | 05/18/2025 | $38,589 |
| Goodlife Innovations | Montessori Preschool Assistant Teacher | Overland Park, KS | 05/18/2025 | $41,740 |
| Endeavor Schools | Lead Primary/Preschool Teacher-Montessori | Baltimore, MD | 05/14/2025 | $43,827 |
| Guidepost Montessori | Summer Montessori Preschool Teacher | Houston, TX | 05/08/2025 | $33,392 |
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