Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay in the United States
What this work is
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
Where the money actually goes furthest
District of Columbia pays the most both before and after cost of living — $62,150, worth $56,551 once local prices are counted.
Pay by state
54 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $29.88/hr | $62,150 | $56,551 | $59,459 | 2,350 |
| Kansas | $22.96/hr | $47,750 | $53,014 | $45,374 | 1,330 |
| Nebraska | $22.62/hr | $47,040 | $52,208 | $45,503 | 1,630 |
| Vermont | $23.91/hr | $49,730 | $50,765 | $48,298 | 940 |
| South Dakota | $21.39/hr | $44,500 | $50,231 | $44,500 | 1,470 |
| New Mexico | $21.19/hr | $44,070 | $47,793 | $43,014 | 2,490 |
| Georgia | $21.12/hr | $43,920 | $45,612 | $42,263 | 16,850 |
| Maine | $21.10/hr | $43,890 | $45,224 | $42,167 | 1,110 |
| Alaska | $22.18/hr | $46,130 | $45,066 | $46,130 | 520 |
| North Dakota | $19.10/hr | $39,720 | $44,649 | $39,720 | 540 |
| Hawaii | $23.45/hr | $48,780 | $44,365 | $46,501 | 1,410 |
| New Jersey | $23.19/hr | $48,220 | $44,315 | $47,048 | 16,190 |
| Colorado | $21.87/hr | $45,500 | $44,153 | $44,186 | 5,210 |
| Connecticut | $21.99/hr | $45,740 | $44,146 | $43,931 | 5,230 |
| Minnesota | $20.88/hr | $43,430 | $44,037 | $41,886 | 10,320 |
| Oregon | $21.70/hr | $45,140 | $43,672 | $41,731 | 6,300 |
| Massachusetts | $22.06/hr | $45,890 | $43,390 | $43,595 | 18,710 |
| New York | $22.37/hr | $46,520 | $43,106 | $44,566 | 23,870 |
| Louisiana | $18.28/hr | $38,020 | $43,101 | $37,254 | 3,570 |
| California | $22.79/hr | $47,400 | $42,810 | $46,310 | 55,700 |
| Washington | $21.95/hr | $45,660 | $42,668 | $45,660 | 13,210 |
| Maryland | $21.44/hr | $44,600 | $42,492 | $42,662 | 8,020 |
| Mississippi | $17.43/hr | $36,250 | $41,690 | $34,756 | 3,600 |
| Illinois | $19.67/hr | $40,910 | $40,926 | $39,022 | 22,420 |
| Missouri | $17.35/hr | $36,090 | $39,737 | $35,250 | 5,580 |
| Arkansas | $16.44/hr | $34,190 | $39,325 | $33,033 | 3,270 |
| Indiana | $17.62/hr | $36,650 | $39,269 | $35,580 | 7,110 |
| Nevada | $18.69/hr | $38,870 | $38,877 | $38,870 | 2,360 |
| Montana | $17.57/hr | $36,540 | $38,605 | $35,498 | 960 |
| Michigan | $17.84/hr | $37,110 | $38,567 | $35,770 | 10,950 |
| Iowa | $16.26/hr | $33,830 | $38,548 | $33,099 | 5,910 |
| Wisconsin | $17.39/hr | $36,160 | $38,427 | $35,283 | 11,330 |
| Ohio | $16.91/hr | $35,180 | $37,921 | $34,928 | 19,840 |
| North Carolina | $17.17/hr | $35,710 | $37,856 | $34,734 | 18,370 |
| New Hampshire | $18.92/hr | $39,350 | $37,774 | $39,350 | 2,220 |
| Tennessee | $16.48/hr | $34,280 | $37,313 | $34,280 | 5,420 |
| Pennsylvania | $17.33/hr | $36,050 | $36,947 | $34,943 | 22,760 |
| South Carolina | $16.59/hr | $34,500 | $36,800 | $33,943 | 4,550 |
| Virginia | $17.86/hr | $37,140 | $36,735 | $35,750 | 13,570 |
| Delaware | $17.48/hr | $36,360 | $36,429 | $34,908 | 2,000 |
| West Virginia | $15.62/hr | $32,480 | $36,290 | $31,564 | 2,190 |
| Oklahoma | $15.29/hr | $31,790 | $36,190 | $30,770 | 7,010 |
| Arizona | $17.45/hr | $36,300 | $36,054 | $35,757 | 9,400 |
| Rhode Island | $17.71/hr | $36,830 | $36,008 | $35,844 | 1,890 |
| Utah | $16.83/hr | $35,010 | $35,413 | $33,417 | 3,670 |
| Texas | $16.28/hr | $33,860 | $34,885 | $33,860 | 41,200 |
| Florida | $17.24/hr | $35,860 | $34,677 | $35,860 | 35,740 |
| Idaho | $15.77/hr | $32,800 | $34,349 | $31,835 | 1,010 |
| Kentucky | $14.32/hr | $29,780 | $33,030 | $28,715 | 8,520 |
| Wyoming | $14.39/hr | $29,930 | $32,290 | $29,930 | 1,040 |
| Alabama | $13.61/hr | $28,310 | $31,873 | $27,084 | 7,910 |
| Virgin Islands | $21.53/hr | $44,790 | Not published | Not published | 100 |
| Puerto Rico | $15.44/hr | $32,120 | Not published | Not published | 2,960 |
| Guam | $10.64/hr | $22,120 | Not published | Not published | 160 |
National median for comparison: $38,140. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$18.34/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
Drop your résumé — it never leaves your browser