Preschool Teacher Salary
Preschool Teacher Salary Estimate
$16.15hourly
How much does a Preschool Teacher make?
The average salary for a preschool teacher in the United States is $33,582. Preschool teacher salaries typically range between $23,000 and $47,000 a year. The average hourly rate for preschool teachers is $16.15 per hour.
Location, education, and experience impacts how much a preschool teacher can expect to make. Preschool teachers make the most in Hawaii, California, New York, New Mexico, and Vermont.
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The average salary for a preschool teacher is $33,582 in the US. -
The average preschool teacher salary ranges between $23,000 and $47,000 in the US. -
Hourly rates for preschool teachers in the US typically range between $11 and $22 an hour. -
The average preschool teacher salary is $43,575 in Hawaii, $40,866 in California, and $40,587 in New York. These are the three highest-paying states for preschool teachers in the US. -
Kings Canyon Unified School District has the highest average salary for preschool teachers.
Highest Paying States For Preschool Teachers
- State View
- County View
Preschool Teacher average salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $38,878 | $18.69 | 289 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $38,125 | $18.33 | 84 |
| 3 | New York | $40,587 | $19.51 | 1,427 |
| 4 | Vermont | $38,135 | $18.33 | 108 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $37,724 | $18.14 | 889 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $36,776 | $17.68 | 581 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $37,409 | $17.99 | 1,235 |
| 8 | Nevada | $33,665 | $16.19 | 360 |
| 9 | Arizona | $34,075 | $16.38 | 1,081 |
| 10 | California | $40,866 | $19.65 | 2,540 |
| 11 | Kansas | $34,371 | $16.52 | 357 |
| 12 | Colorado | $34,889 | $16.77 | 930 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $38,849 | $18.68 | 167 |
| 14 | Texas | $34,524 | $16.60 | 1,997 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $43,575 | $20.95 | 26 |
| 16 | Nebraska | $33,664 | $16.18 | 234 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $36,010 | $17.31 | 846 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $35,882 | $17.25 | 76 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $34,016 | $16.35 | 65 |
| 20 | Washington | $35,504 | $17.07 | 625 |
| 21 | Illinois | $31,892 | $15.33 | 1,856 |
| 22 | Maryland | $33,939 | $16.32 | 958 |
| 23 | Virginia | $34,087 | $16.39 | 865 |
| 24 | Oregon | $35,145 | $16.90 | 333 |
| 25 | Iowa | $31,342 | $15.07 | 342 |
| 26 | Michigan | $30,371 | $14.60 | 1,012 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $32,046 | $15.41 | 36 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $30,485 | $14.66 | 279 |
| 29 | Montana | $29,973 | $14.41 | 172 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $31,190 | $15.00 | 248 |
| 31 | Maine | $32,169 | $15.47 | 72 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $30,507 | $14.67 | 457 |
| 33 | Missouri | $30,315 | $14.57 | 514 |
| 34 | Utah | $30,603 | $14.71 | 202 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $28,574 | $13.74 | 493 |
| 36 | Alaska | $31,922 | $15.35 | 63 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $28,472 | $13.69 | 220 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $28,435 | $13.67 | 1,105 |
| 39 | Indiana | $27,252 | $13.10 | 701 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $28,003 | $13.46 | 277 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $26,298 | $12.64 | 335 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $27,789 | $13.36 | 863 |
| 43 | Idaho | $28,574 | $13.74 | 146 |
| 44 | Delaware | $27,187 | $13.07 | 136 |
| 45 | Ohio | $27,919 | $13.42 | 758 |
| 46 | Georgia | $26,336 | $12.66 | 936 |
| 47 | Florida | $24,137 | $11.60 | 1,695 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $24,775 | $11.91 | 441 |
| 49 | Rhode Island | $27,446 | $13.20 | 70 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $24,667 | $11.86 | 173 |
| 51 | Alabama | $21,021 | $10.11 | 279 |
Highest Paying Cities For Preschool Teachers
| Rank | City | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $41,428 | $19.92 | 19 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $40,635 | $19.54 | 24 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $38,892 | $18.70 | 1 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $37,714 | $18.13 | 4 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $35,996 | $17.31 | 17 |
| 6 | Ashburn, VA | $35,990 | $17.30 | 11 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $35,545 | $17.09 | 13 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $34,920 | $16.79 | 5 |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $34,757 | $16.71 | 10 |
| 10 | Kansas City, KS | $34,507 | $16.59 | 1 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $34,178 | $16.43 | 20 |
| 12 | Rockville, MD | $33,768 | $16.23 | 3 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $33,767 | $16.23 | 26 |
| 14 | Omaha, NE | $33,713 | $16.21 | 8 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $31,963 | $15.37 | 21 |
Here Are The Five Most In Demand Cities Right Now:
Preschool Teachers Salary Details
What is a Preschool Teacher's Salary?
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| Average | $33,582 | $2,799 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Highest Paying Types of Preschool Teachers
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Internship | $48,398 | $4,033 | $23.27 | 105,496 |
| Teacher Aide | $29,480 | $2,457 | $14.17 | 106,207 |
| Head Start Teacher | $33,865 | $2,822 | $16.28 | 67,747 |
| Infant Teacher | $29,076 | $2,423 | $13.98 | 63,079 |
| Toddler Teacher | $30,703 | $2,559 | $14.76 | 67,810 |
| Floater Teacher | $28,813 | $2,401 | $13.85 | 78,131 |
Here are the five companies hiring the most now:
Which Companies Pay Preschool Teachers The Most?
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kings Canyon Unified School District | $63,800 | $30.67 | 16 |
| 2 | Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles | $59,286 | $28.50 | |
| 3 | West Contra Costa Unified School District | $57,016 | $27.41 | |
| 4 | Siemens Enterprise Communications Inc | $56,172 | $27.01 | |
| 5 | Stratford Board Of Education | $55,935 | $26.89 | |
| 6 | Presidio Knolls School | $55,575 | $26.72 | |
| 7 | Hall & Evans | $55,288 | $26.58 | |
| 8 | Merritt Academy | $55,251 | $26.56 | 3 |
| 9 | Lake Elsinore Unified School District | $55,208 | $26.54 | |
| 10 | Puget Sound ESD | $55,020 | $26.45 | |
| 11 | Cypress Fairbanks Isd | $53,823 | $25.88 | 3 |
| 12 | Council Bluffs Community School District | $53,539 | $25.74 | 14 |
| 13 | San Jacinto Unified School District | $52,769 | $25.37 | |
| 14 | Pine Crest School | $52,124 | $25.06 | 1 |
| 15 | Stanford University | $51,739 | $24.87 | 2 |
| 16 | Broward County Public Schools | $51,674 | $24.84 | 27 |
| 17 | Leman Academy of Excellence, Inc. | $51,633 | $24.82 | 7 |
| 18 | Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza | $51,583 | $24.80 | 1 |
| 19 | Goleta Union School District | $51,572 | $24.79 | 3 |
| 20 | Skyline Education, Inc | $51,449 | $24.74 | 10 |
Preschool Teacher Pay Trends
Average Preschool Teacher Salary Over Time
Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Preschool Teacher Salary By Year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $33,600 | $16.14 | +4.4% |
| 2022 | $32,100 | $15.43 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $31,300 | $15.06 | +2.7% |
| 2020 | $30,500 | $14.66 | +0.7% |
| 2019 | $30,300 | $14.56 | +0.8% |
Recently Added Preschool Teacher Salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date Added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siemens Healthineers | Preschool Teacher | Wilsonville, OR | 05/02/2023 | $29,698 |
| Kiddie Academy of Woodforest | Preschool Teacher | Montgomery, TX | 05/02/2023 | $20,870 |
| Montessori School of Silicon Valley | NOW !!! Preschool Assistant Teacher | Santa Clara, CA | 05/02/2023 | $41,740 |
| 744 | Preschool Teacher | Jacksonville, FL | 05/02/2023 | $31,305 |
| Alma Mater Lyceum Learning Connections Center | Infant Preschool Teacher | Kissimmee, FL | 05/02/2023 | $27,131 |
| Marathon Staffing | Preschool Teacher | Lyndeborough, NH | 05/02/2023 | $40,000 |
| Encounter Learning Center | Preschool Teacher | Westwood, MA | 05/02/2023 | $37,566 |
| Emergency Childcare Services | Preschool Teachers Wanted (Uptown) | Charlotte, NC | 05/02/2023 | $33,392 |
| Acelero Learning | Substitute Preschool Teacher | Camden, NJ | 05/01/2023 | $29,489 |
| Discovery Tree Schools | Preschool Teacher | Sacramento, CA | 05/01/2023 | $33,392 |
Preschool Teacher Salaries FAQs
What State Pays Preschool Teachers The Most?
Hawaii pays Preschool Teachers the most in the United States, with an average salary of $43,575 per year, or $20.95 per hour.
How Do I Know If I'm Being Paid Fairly As A Preschool Teacher?
You know if you are being paid fairly as a Preschool Teacher if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in California you should be paid close to $40,866 per year.
What Is A Good Starting Salary For A Preschool Teacher?
A good starting salary for a preschool teacher is $20,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a preschool teacher in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for preschool teachers is $31,862, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a preschool teacher can vary by state.
Can You Make A Living As A Preschool Teacher?
You can make a living wage as a preschool teacher. The median pay for working full-time in 2020 in the United States was $31,930, which is $15.35 per hour. The work has a higher than average growth projection of 18 percent from 2020 to 2030.
Do Preschool Teachers Get Paid Well?
No, preschool teachers do not get paid well, considering the service they provide. Even with a bachelor's degree, the median salary for preschool teachers is $31,930, compared to Kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers who earn an average between $54,478 and $72,039.
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