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Best states for a pre-k teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
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Pre-k teacher opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for pre-k teachers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for pre-k teachers.In order to help you decide which state is the best for pre-k teachers, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for pre-k teacher jobs.
In order to get you the best states for pre-k teachers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for pre-k teachers, and the Northeast is the worst. New York, NY is the best city in the country for pre-k teacher jobs, where as Maryland is the best state in the country.
10 best states for pre-k teachers in 2026
1. Maryland
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 737 Average annual salary: $59,598 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.57
2. New York
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 936 Average annual salary: $62,828 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
3. Massachusetts
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 655 Average annual salary: $60,538 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
4. New Jersey
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 1,014 Average annual salary: $51,897 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.73
5. Connecticut
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 389 Average annual salary: $50,969 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.59
6. District of Columbia
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 148 Average annual salary: $57,620 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
7. Minnesota
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 554 Average annual salary: $50,071 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
8. Pennsylvania
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 834 Average annual salary: $47,164 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
9. California
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 1,780 Average annual salary: $55,235 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
10. Texas
Total pre-k teacher jobs: 1,530 Average annual salary: $46,873 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
Pre-k teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a pre-k teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a pre-k teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $59,598 | $40,000 | 6,052,177 | 737 |
| 2 | New York | $62,828 | $42,000 | 19,849,399 | 936 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $60,538 | $42,000 | 6,859,819 | 655 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $51,897 | $35,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,014 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $50,969 | $34,000 | 3,588,184 | 389 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $57,620 | $38,000 | 693,972 | 148 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $50,071 | $36,000 | 5,576,606 | 554 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $47,164 | $31,000 | 12,805,537 | 834 |
| 9 | California | $55,235 | $39,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,780 |
| 10 | Texas | $46,873 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,530 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $42,633 | $30,000 | 2,088,070 | 218 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $42,225 | $29,000 | 1,342,795 | 201 |
| 13 | Michigan | $41,329 | $28,000 | 9,962,311 | 709 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $50,541 | $34,000 | 1,059,639 | 47 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $42,579 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 151 |
| 16 | Washington | $47,682 | $35,000 | 7,405,743 | 408 |
| 17 | Illinois | $40,798 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,368 |
| 18 | Vermont | $44,106 | $31,000 | 623,657 | 41 |
| 19 | Alaska | $48,168 | $41,000 | 739,795 | 17 |
| 20 | Virginia | $42,420 | $28,000 | 8,470,020 | 629 |
| 21 | Delaware | $40,367 | $27,000 | 961,939 | 100 |
| 22 | Iowa | $39,974 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 206 |
| 23 | Ohio | $37,942 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 600 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $37,821 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 35 |
| 25 | Alabama | $39,326 | $27,000 | 4,874,747 | 152 |
| 26 | Oregon | $40,742 | $29,000 | 4,142,776 | 206 |
| 27 | Nevada | $34,629 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 355 |
| 28 | Montana | $35,854 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 104 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $38,484 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 122 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $37,701 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 21 |
| 31 | Utah | $37,420 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 115 |
| 32 | Georgia | $35,108 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 641 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $43,989 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 10 |
| 34 | Florida | $34,731 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,230 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $36,091 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 321 |
| 36 | Maine | $36,830 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 43 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $32,360 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 247 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $34,845 | $23,000 | 1,815,857 | 22 |
| 39 | Colorado | $32,477 | $23,000 | 5,607,154 | 687 |
| 40 | Indiana | $33,590 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 383 |
| 41 | Kansas | $33,124 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 211 |
| 42 | Arizona | $31,684 | $22,000 | 7,016,270 | 738 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $33,774 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 90 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $33,997 | $23,000 | 4,684,333 | 158 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $32,200 | $22,000 | 6,715,984 | 349 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $30,541 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 646 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $30,494 | $20,000 | 5,024,369 | 320 |
| 48 | Idaho | $31,837 | $23,000 | 1,716,943 | 72 |
| 49 | Missouri | $30,041 | $21,000 | 6,113,532 | 371 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $30,796 | $21,000 | 3,004,279 | 134 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $31,361 | $22,000 | 869,666 | 15 |
Highest paying states for pre-k teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. Pre-K Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $59,598 |
| 2 | New York | $62,828 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $60,538 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $51,897 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $50,969 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $57,620 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $50,071 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $47,164 |
| 9 | California | $55,235 |
| 10 | Texas | $46,873 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $42,633 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $42,225 |
| 13 | Michigan | $41,329 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $50,541 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $42,579 |
| 16 | Washington | $47,682 |
| 17 | Illinois | $40,798 |
| 18 | Vermont | $44,106 |
| 19 | Alaska | $48,168 |
| 20 | Virginia | $42,420 |
| 21 | Delaware | $40,367 |
| 22 | Iowa | $39,974 |
| 23 | Ohio | $37,942 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $37,821 |
| 25 | Alabama | $39,326 |
| 26 | Oregon | $40,742 |
| 27 | Nevada | $34,629 |
| 28 | Montana | $35,854 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $38,484 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $37,701 |
| 31 | Utah | $37,420 |
| 32 | Georgia | $35,108 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $43,989 |
| 34 | Florida | $34,731 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $36,091 |
| 36 | Maine | $36,830 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $32,360 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $34,845 |
| 39 | Colorado | $32,477 |
| 40 | Indiana | $33,590 |
| 41 | Kansas | $33,124 |
| 42 | Arizona | $31,684 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $33,774 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $33,997 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $32,200 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $30,541 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $30,494 |
| 48 | Idaho | $31,837 |
| 49 | Missouri | $30,041 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $30,796 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $31,361 |
Expert opinions on the best states for pre-k teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for pre-k teachers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
Professor, Calvin University
If you mean in the field(s) of classics, some private schools and academies are hiring (still) Latin and Greek teachers, especially in the South and Southwest. In the upper Midwest and Northeast, not so much.
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Updated January 8, 2025