Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · 479K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$38,140
Median hourly
$18
Average annual
$43,030
Typical range
$28,990–$61,390
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education is $38,140 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $18 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth..
Most earn between $28,990 and $61,390 a year. There are roughly 479K people employed as preschool teachers, except special education in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education.
- Hourly
- $18.34
- Daily
- $147
- Weekly
- $733
- Bi-weekly
- $1,467
- Monthly
- $3,178
- Annual
- $38,140
$38,140 a year is around the 50th percentile for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Educations. The median is $38,140.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1District of Columbia$62,150
- 2Vermont$49,730
- 3Hawaii$48,780
- 4New Jersey$48,220
- 5Kansas$47,750
- 6California$47,400
- 7Nebraska$47,040
- 8New York$46,520
- 9Alaska$46,130
- 10Massachusetts$45,890
- 11Connecticut$45,740
- 12Washington$45,660
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Vineland, NJ$63,340
- 2Albany, GA$62,680
- 3Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ$59,320
- 4Brunswick-St. Simons, GA$58,000
- 5Fairbanks-College, AK$57,680
- 6Visalia, CA$56,930
- 7Kahului-Wailuku, HI$55,340
- 8San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$53,810
- 9Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA$51,310
- 10San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$51,190
- 11New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$50,230
- 12Hinesville, GA$49,690
Related job titles
Employers advertise Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education roles under these titles.
- After School Teacher
- Child Care Assistant Teacher
- Child Development Teacher
- Childcare Teacher
- Childhood Development Teacher
- Day Care Teacher
- Early Childhood Educator
- Early Childhood Teacher
- Group Teacher
- Home-Based Preschool Teacher
- Montessori Paraprofessional
- Montessori Preschool Teacher
- Nursery School Teacher
- Nursery Teacher
- Pre-Kindergarten Teacher (Pre-K Teacher)
- Pre-School Teacher
Related occupations
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$62,680
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool$64,830
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$74,260
- Childcare Workers$34,980
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$59,300
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School$66,810
What a Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education does
- Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
- Assimilate arriving children to the school environment by greeting them, helping them remove outerwear, and selecting activities of interest to them.
- Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Arrange indoor and outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, and safety.
- Organize and label materials and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their ages and perceptual skills.
- Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.
- Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and needs, determine their priorities for their children, and suggest ways that they can promote learning and development.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education make?
- The median annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education is $38,140 ($18 per hour). Pay ranges from about $28,990 at the 10th percentile to $61,390 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $43,030, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Preschool Teachers, Except Special Educations the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $62,150.
- Is Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 479K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education do?
- Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.; Assimilate arriving children to the school environment by greeting them, helping them remove outerwear, and selecting activities of interest to them.; Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health..