Best cities for a pre-k teacher
The best cities for pre-k teachers are Philadelphia, PA, Fort Worth, TX, and Houston, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for pre-k teachers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for pre-k teachers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a pre-k teacher or considering a move, this list of the best cities for pre-k teachers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for pre-k teachers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a pre-k teacher. While the absolute best city for pre-k teachers is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for pre-k teachers in 2024.
If you're looking for a pre-k teacher job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for pre-k teachers in 2026
1. Philadelphia, PA
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $47,720 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location quotient: 2.53 2. Fort Worth, TX
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $47,003 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 1.61 3. Houston, TX
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $46,762 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 0.99 4. New York, NY
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $62,990 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 0.67 5. Stockton, CA
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $56,361 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 2.99 6. Boston, MA
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $60,583 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 0.37 7. Dallas, TX
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $46,915 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 0.61 8. Buffalo, NY
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $59,642 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 0.52 9. Saint Paul, MN
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $50,119 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location quotient: 0.55 10. Washington, DC
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $57,649 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 2.49
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Best cities for pre-k teachers
- Philadelphia, PA
- Fort Worth, TX
- Houston, TX
- New York, NY
- Stockton, CA
- Boston, MA
- Dallas, TX
- Buffalo, NY
- Saint Paul, MN
- Washington, DC
- (23 pre-k teacher jobs)
- (5 pre-k teacher jobs)
- (21 pre-k teacher jobs)
- (41 pre-k teacher jobs)
- (2 pre-k teacher jobs)
- (5 pre-k teacher jobs)
- (7 pre-k teacher jobs)
- (1 pre-k teacher jobs)
- (2 pre-k teacher jobs)
- (27 pre-k teacher jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a pre-k teacher
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $47,720 | $32,000 | 1,567,872 | 23 |
| 2 | Fort Worth, TX | $47,003 | $32,000 | 854,113 | 5 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $46,762 | $32,000 | 2,303,482 | 21 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $62,990 | $42,000 | 8,537,673 | 41 |
| 5 | Stockton, CA | $56,361 | $39,000 | 307,072 | 2 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $60,583 | $42,000 | 673,184 | 5 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $46,915 | $32,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $59,642 | $40,000 | 256,902 | 1 |
| 9 | Saint Paul, MN | $50,119 | $36,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $57,649 | $38,000 | 681,170 | 27 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $47,102 | $32,000 | 947,890 | 4 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $60,011 | $40,000 | 614,664 | 2 |
| 13 | Brookhaven, NY | $63,588 | $43,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 14 | San Jose, CA | $56,864 | $39,000 | 1,025,350 | 10 |
| 15 | Islip, NY | $63,464 | $43,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 16 | Oyster Bay, NY | $63,278 | $42,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $46,931 | $32,000 | 1,492,510 | 1 |
| 18 | Hempstead, NY | $63,199 | $42,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 19 | Anchorage, AK | $48,327 | $41,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 20 | Arlington, TX | $46,987 | $32,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 21 | Irving, TX | $46,904 | $32,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 22 | Garland, TX | $46,807 | $32,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 23 | Minneapolis, MN | $50,087 | $36,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 24 | El Paso, TX | $47,963 | $33,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 25 | Plano, TX | $46,753 | $32,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 26 | Lubbock, TX | $47,139 | $33,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 27 | Laredo, TX | $46,233 | $32,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 28 | Corpus Christi, TX | $46,125 | $32,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 29 | San Francisco, CA | $57,145 | $39,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 30 | Oakland, CA | $57,014 | $39,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 31 | Fremont, CA | $56,892 | $39,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 32 | Pittsburgh, PA | $44,516 | $30,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 33 | Albuquerque, NM | $42,472 | $29,000 | 559,277 | 2 |
| 34 | Sacramento, CA | $56,226 | $39,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 35 | Bakersfield, CA | $55,442 | $38,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 36 | Chicago, IL | $40,956 | $28,000 | 2,704,958 | 15 |
| 37 | Cleveland, OH | $39,123 | $26,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 38 | Fresno, CA | $55,681 | $39,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 39 | Los Angeles, CA | $54,807 | $38,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 40 | Virginia Beach, VA | $42,406 | $28,000 | 452,602 | 1 |
| 41 | Long Beach, CA | $54,654 | $38,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 42 | Jersey City, NJ | $52,101 | $35,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 43 | Omaha, NE | $42,590 | $30,000 | 446,970 | 2 |
| 44 | Anaheim, CA | $54,558 | $38,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 45 | Newark, NJ | $52,046 | $35,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 46 | Atlanta, GA | $35,084 | $23,000 | 472,522 | 21 |
| 47 | New Orleans, LA | $33,902 | $23,000 | 391,495 | 3 |
| 48 | Santa Ana, CA | $54,521 | $38,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 49 | Irvine, CA | $54,466 | $38,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 50 | Riverside, CA | $54,353 | $38,000 | 324,722 | - |
Highest paying cities for pre-k teachers
| Rank | City | Avg. pre-k teacher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $62,990 |
| 2 | Brookline, MA | $60,577 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $57,649 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $56,864 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $47,720 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $47,102 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $42,472 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $40,956 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $37,288 |
| 10 | Macon, GA | $35,139 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $34,945 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $34,573 |
| 13 | New Orleans, LA | $33,902 |
| 14 | Coeur dAlene, ID | $32,138 |
| 15 | New Bern, NC | $31,039 |
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Updated January 8, 2025