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Preschool lead teacher salary
Average preschool lead teacher salary
$15.95
Understanding the Preschool Lead Teacher Salary
The Preschool Lead Teacher salary varies significantly across different states and cities. On average, teachers earn around $33,176 annually. However, salaries can range based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and educational background. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the increased cost of living and demand for quality education.
Highest Paying Cities
In cities such as San Francisco and New York City, preschool teachers can earn upwards of $45,000 annually. Additionally, the demand for qualified early childhood educators continues to grow, which can further influence salary increases. It’s essential for aspiring teachers to research local job markets and consider ongoing education and certifications to enhance their qualifications.
Job Opportunities and Growth
As the educational landscape evolves, more schools and childcare centers are recognizing the importance of well-trained educators. This presents numerous opportunities for career advancement, including roles in administration or specialized educational programs. Job seekers can utilize platforms like Zippia to explore available positions and salary insights tailored to their qualifications and location.
Let Zippia find your next preschool lead teacher job
Let Zippia find your next preschool lead teacher job
Where can a Preschool Lead Teacher earn more?
Average preschool lead teacher salary by state
The average preschool lead teacher salary in New York, California, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average preschool lead teacher salary states are Georgia, Oklahoma, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for preschool lead teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $41,358 | $19.88 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $37,358 | $17.96 |
| 3 | New York | $45,780 | $22.01 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $43,873 | $21.09 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $37,981 | $18.26 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $38,753 | $18.63 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $34,668 | $16.67 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $38,123 | $18.33 |
| 9 | California | $44,640 | $21.46 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $36,642 | $17.62 |
| 11 | Kansas | $33,511 | $16.11 |
| 12 | Alaska | $35,338 | $16.99 |
| 13 | Nevada | $32,569 | $15.66 |
| 14 | Oregon | $38,748 | $18.63 |
| 15 | Arizona | $33,457 | $16.09 |
| 16 | Washington | $38,172 | $18.35 |
| 17 | Missouri | $35,675 | $17.15 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $38,192 | $18.36 |
| 19 | Colorado | $34,957 | $16.81 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $33,158 | $15.94 |
| 21 | Maine | $34,997 | $16.83 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $42,380 | $20.38 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $32,021 | $15.39 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $35,298 | $16.97 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $34,684 | $16.68 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $30,855 | $14.83 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $30,961 | $14.89 |
| 28 | Montana | $30,568 | $14.70 |
| 29 | Michigan | $31,275 | $15.04 |
| 30 | Texas | $32,734 | $15.74 |
| 31 | Utah | $30,507 | $14.67 |
| 32 | Virginia | $34,533 | $16.60 |
| 33 | Illinois | $31,193 | $15.00 |
| 34 | Maryland | $31,112 | $14.96 |
| 35 | Idaho | $29,001 | $13.94 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $30,893 | $14.85 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $29,008 | $13.95 |
| 38 | Iowa | $28,830 | $13.86 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $25,660 | $12.34 |
| 40 | Indiana | $27,703 | $13.32 |
| 41 | Ohio | $28,799 | $13.85 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $29,487 | $14.18 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $28,216 | $13.57 |
| 44 | Delaware | $26,969 | $12.97 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $28,355 | $13.63 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $27,208 | $13.08 |
| 47 | Florida | $24,678 | $11.86 |
| 48 | Georgia | $26,872 | $12.92 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $24,543 | $11.80 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $24,208 | $11.64 |
| 51 | Alabama | $20,848 | $10.02 |
Highest paying cities for preschool lead teachers
The highest-paying cities for preschool lead teachers are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Newton, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $46,827 | $22.51 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $45,738 | $21.99 |
| 3 | Newton, MA | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $38,781 | $18.64 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $38,674 | $18.59 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $38,399 | $18.46 |
| 7 | Jackson, NJ | $37,718 | $18.13 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $36,143 | $17.38 |
| 9 | Ashburn, VA | $35,894 | $17.26 |
| 10 | Portland, ME | $35,222 | $16.93 |
| 11 | Arvada, CO | $34,999 | $16.83 |
| 12 | Omaha, NE | $34,657 | $16.66 |
| 13 | Kansas City, KS | $33,610 | $16.16 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $33,569 | $16.14 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $32,971 | $15.85 |
| 16 | Ellicott City, MD | $31,235 | $15.02 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $31,223 | $15.01 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $31,169 | $14.99 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $29,476 | $14.17 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $28,335 | $13.62 |
Preschool lead teacher salary details
A preschool lead teacher's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $45,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a preschool lead teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| Average | $33,176 | $2,765 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying preschool lead teacher jobs
The highest paying types of preschool lead teachers are head teacher, kindergarten teacher, and teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant And Toddler Teacher | $29,606 | $2,467 | $14.23 | 63,094 |
| Teacher Aide | $29,480 | $2,457 | $14.17 | 106,207 |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $48,029 | $4,002 | $23.09 | 65,972 |
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Floater Teacher | $28,813 | $2,401 | $13.85 | 78,131 |
| Toddler Teacher | $30,703 | $2,559 | $14.76 | 67,810 |
Top companies hiring preschool lead teachers now:
Which companies pay preschool lead teachers the most?
Preschool lead teacher salaries at Columbia University in the City of New York and Grand Ledge High School are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average preschool lead teacher salary at companies like The Opportunity Alliance and Legacy Traditional Schools are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $48,157 | $23.15 |
| 2 | Grand Ledge High School | $45,177 | $21.72 |
| 3 | The Opportunity Alliance | $43,444 | $20.89 |
| 4 | Legacy Traditional Schools | $41,665 | $20.03 |
| 5 | Wilder Foundation | $40,456 | $19.45 |
| 6 | Millhill Child & Family Development | $39,621 | $19.05 |
| 7 | Mission Neighborhood Centers | $38,395 | $18.46 |
| 8 | Aspen School District | $38,305 | $18.42 |
| 9 | Archdiocese of Philadelphia | $38,242 | $18.39 |
| 10 | Child Care Solutions | $37,834 | $18.19 |
| 11 | The Montessori School - Wilton | $37,776 | $18.16 |
| 12 | The Learning Center | $37,689 | $18.12 |
| 13 | Georgetown Hill Early School | $37,576 | $18.07 |
| 14 | Little Lukes | $37,387 | $17.97 |
| 15 | Humboldt School District | $37,295 | $17.93 |
| 16 | Regional Enterprises for Adults & Children | $36,981 | $17.78 |
| 17 | Kiddie Academy | $36,926 | $17.75 |
| 18 | Atonement Lutheran Church | $36,882 | $17.73 |
| 19 | Little Sunshine's Playhouse | $36,860 | $17.72 |
| 20 | Oak Meadow School | $36,857 | $17.72 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Preschool lead teacher salary trends
The average preschool lead teacher salary has risen by $5,518 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average preschool lead teacher earned $27,658 annually, but today, they earn $33,176 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for preschool lead teachers over the last decade.
Compare preschool lead teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average preschool lead teacher salary over time
Compare preschool lead teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Preschool lead teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,200 | $15.95 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $31,700 | $15.25 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $30,900 | $14.88 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $30,100 | $14.48 | +0.7% |
| 2021 | $29,900 | $14.38 | +0.8% |
Recently added preschool lead teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue School District | Preschool Lead Teacher(S) | Bellevue, WA | 06/30/2025 | $69,017 |
| Pediatrics Plus | Preschool Lead Teacher | North Little Rock, AR | 06/29/2025 | $30,095 |
| The Goddard School of Lexington | Preschool Lead Teacher | Lexington, MA | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| La MRe Academy | Lead Preschool (3YO) Teacher | Leander, TX | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| The Growing Years | Lead Preschool Teacher | Greensboro, NC | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| YWCA Chicago | Preschool for All Lead Teacher | Aurora, IL | 06/28/2025 | $57,000 |
| YWCA Metropolitan Chicago | Preschool for All Lead Teacher | Aurora, IL | 06/28/2025 | $57,000 |
| Wilmette Park District | Full Day Preschool Lead Teacher | Wilmette, IL | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Oakland Schools | Lead Teacher-Preschool, OLD Program-Berkley Building Blocks | Oak Park, MI | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Mission Neighborhood Centers | Lead Preschool Teacher | San Francisco, CA | 06/27/2025 | $78,951 |
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