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Preschool assistant salary
Average preschool assistant salary
$13.67
Average Preschool Assistant Salary
The average salary for a preschool assistant in the United States is $28,442 annually, translating to about $14 per hour. Compensation varies widely based on geographical location, years of experience, and job responsibilities.
Where Preschool Assistants Earn More
In states like California and New York, preschool assistants tend to earn higher than the national average. For instance, in California, the average salary can reach approximately $34,000 per year. These figures reflect regional disparities in demand for educational roles.
Salary Estimates by Experience
Entry-level preschool assistants may start at around $25,000, while those with several years of experience or those in supervisory roles can earn upwards of $35,000. Understanding these variations can help prospective employees gauge their earning potential.
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Where can a Preschool Assistant earn more?
Preschool assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average preschool assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for preschool assistants are Hawaii, California, and New York. The lowest average preschool assistant salary states are Delaware, Virginia, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for preschool assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $31,530 | $15.16 |
| 2 | Indiana | $30,070 | $14.46 |
| 3 | Ohio | $26,460 | $12.72 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $29,017 | $13.95 |
| 5 | Nevada | $27,827 | $13.38 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $29,576 | $14.22 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $26,550 | $12.76 |
| 8 | Washington | $30,226 | $14.53 |
| 9 | Texas | $27,334 | $13.14 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $29,573 | $14.22 |
| 11 | California | $32,297 | $15.53 |
| 12 | Michigan | $26,618 | $12.80 |
| 13 | Arizona | $26,436 | $12.71 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $28,378 | $13.64 |
| 15 | Oregon | $28,268 | $13.59 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $27,181 | $13.07 |
| 17 | Alaska | $26,878 | $12.92 |
| 18 | Colorado | $26,095 | $12.55 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $26,184 | $12.59 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $26,019 | $12.51 |
| 21 | Vermont | $27,462 | $13.20 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $26,582 | $12.78 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $32,673 | $15.71 |
| 24 | Kansas | $25,635 | $12.32 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $25,796 | $12.40 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $25,072 | $12.05 |
| 27 | Missouri | $25,613 | $12.31 |
| 28 | Illinois | $24,957 | $12.00 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $24,620 | $11.84 |
| 30 | Georgia | $25,384 | $12.20 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $25,311 | $12.17 |
| 32 | Utah | $25,605 | $12.31 |
| 33 | Montana | $25,092 | $12.06 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $27,920 | $13.42 |
| 35 | Idaho | $25,294 | $12.16 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $24,097 | $11.59 |
| 37 | Maryland | $24,337 | $11.70 |
| 38 | Maine | $25,171 | $12.10 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $24,581 | $11.82 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $24,459 | $11.76 |
| 41 | Delaware | $23,909 | $11.49 |
| 42 | Minnesota | $24,054 | $11.56 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $23,932 | $11.51 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $24,010 | $11.54 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $23,427 | $11.26 |
| 46 | Florida | $24,104 | $11.59 |
| 47 | Virginia | $23,736 | $11.41 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $23,565 | $11.33 |
| 49 | Alabama | $23,660 | $11.38 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $24,255 | $11.66 |
| 51 | Iowa | $22,160 | $10.65 |
Highest paying cities for preschool assistants
The highest-paying cities for preschool assistants are San Luis Obispo, CA, Edmonds, WA, and Fishers, IN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $32,638 | $15.69 |
| 2 | Edmonds, WA | $30,129 | $14.49 |
| 3 | Fishers, IN | $30,059 | $14.45 |
| 4 | Paterson, NJ | $29,675 | $14.27 |
| 5 | Eugene, OR | $28,701 | $13.80 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $27,543 | $13.24 |
| 7 | Castle Rock, CO | $26,135 | $12.56 |
| 8 | Des Plaines, IL | $24,950 | $12.00 |
| 9 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $24,545 | $11.80 |
| 10 | Sioux Falls, SD | $24,493 | $11.78 |
| 11 | Lakeside, FL | $24,318 | $11.69 |
| 12 | Plymouth, MN | $24,054 | $11.56 |
| 13 | Murfreesboro, TN | $23,365 | $11.23 |
Preschool assistant salary details
A preschool assistant's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $35,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a preschool assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 75th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| Average | $28,442 | $2,370 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Highest paying preschool assistant jobs
The highest paying types of preschool assistants are title junior assistant, assistant, and preschool teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teacher | $33,582 | $2,798 | $16.14 | 55,298 |
Top companies hiring preschool assistants now:
Which companies pay preschool assistants the most?
Preschool assistant salaries at Greenfield Union School District and Cuesta College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average preschool assistant salary at companies like Esf, Inc. and Orange County Government are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenfield Union School District | $32,110 | $15.44 |
| 2 | Cuesta College | $30,342 | $14.59 |
| 3 | Esf, Inc. | $30,288 | $14.56 |
| 4 | Orange County Government | $29,904 | $14.38 |
| 5 | Gateway Unified School District | $29,611 | $14.24 |
| 6 | Paso Robles Joint Unified School District | $28,388 | $13.65 |
| 7 | Bullitt County Public Schools | $28,286 | $13.60 |
| 8 | Temecula Valley Unified School District | $27,964 | $13.44 |
| 9 | Shalom Austin JCC | $27,854 | $13.39 |
| 10 | City of Eugene | $27,718 | $13.33 |
| 11 | Community Care of Rutherford County | $27,633 | $13.29 |
| 12 | Broward County Public Schools | $27,223 | $13.09 |
| 13 | Apple Tree Children's Centers | $27,002 | $12.98 |
| 14 | Step By Step | $26,959 | $12.96 |
| 15 | The Learning Experience | $26,780 | $12.88 |
| 16 | Goddard School | $26,762 | $12.87 |
| 17 | City of Plymouth, MN | $26,301 | $12.64 |
| 18 | City of Lakewood | $26,137 | $12.57 |
| 19 | City of Edmonds, Official City Account | $25,947 | $12.47 |
| 20 | Des Plaines Park District | $25,792 | $12.40 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Preschool assistant salary trends
The average preschool assistant salary has risen by $5,221 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average preschool assistant earned $23,221 annually, but today, they earn $28,442 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for preschool assistants over the last decade.
Compare preschool assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average preschool assistant salary over time
Compare preschool assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Preschool assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $28,400 | $13.67 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $27,500 | $13.21 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $26,600 | $12.77 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $25,900 | $12.43 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | $25,000 | $12.03 | +2.0% |
Recently added preschool assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Rivers YMCA | Preschool Assistant | East Moline, IL | 06/30/2025 | $36,001 |
| Kokomo School Corporation | Inst. Para., Preschool | Kokomo, IN | 06/26/2025 | $25,628 |
| Zeeland Public Schools | Childcare Assistant, Preschool | Zeeland, MI | 06/26/2025 | $28,321 |
| Stillwater Area Public Schools | Community Education Preschool Assistant | Nore, MN | 06/25/2025 | $37,065 |
| Lake County School District #7 | Preschool-Daycare Assistant | Ione, OR | 06/24/2025 | $34,936 |
| Franklin Township Community School Corporation | Preschool Assistant Tier .07 | Hope, IN | 06/24/2025 | $31,305 |
| Mountainstar Family Relief Nursery | Preschool Promise Assistant | Bend, OR | 06/24/2025 | $39,236 |
| Minnesota Service Cooperatives | Part-Day Preschool Assistant-Early Learning School | Nore, MN | 06/20/2025 | $36,564 |
| Wayzata Public Schools ISD 284 | Part-Day Preschool Assistant-Early Learning School | Nore, MN | 06/19/2025 | $36,564 |
| Addison Elementary School District 4 | (Aelc) Preschool for All/Preschool Expansion Paraeducator | Kane, IL | 06/18/2025 | $37,566 |
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