Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2012) earn a median $62,680 a year in the United States, with 108,870 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What kindergarten teachers, except special education do
Kindergarten teachers teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students. They teach basics such as colors, shapes, numbers, letters, and personal hygiene, working with children singly and in groups and adjusting their methods to each child. They demonstrate activities, read books to whole classes or small groups, and establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures that keep order. They counsel children who have trouble adjusting or have special academic interests, watch each child's performance, behavior, social growth, and health, and ready children for later grades by encouraging them to explore ways to learn. Teachers who work with children who have disabilities are counted as special education teachers, and short-term fill-ins as substitutes. Alternate titles include bilingual kindergarten teacher, early childhood teacher, and kinder teacher.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Art Teacher, Bilingual Education Teacher, Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 108,870 |
| Annual | $46,990 | $52,180 | $62,680 | $79,910 | $101,830 | $69,370 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where kindergarten teachers, except special education earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 5,270 | 1.49 | 2.12 |
| Annual | $65,400 | $79,150 | $99,960 | $108,050 | $125,990 | $95,380 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,420 | 0.84 | 1.20 |
| Annual | $61,730 | $73,960 | $90,030 | $102,050 | $111,450 | $88,070 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 360 | 0.71 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $38,050 | $63,420 | $85,470 | $96,130 | $99,320 | $77,600 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,980 | 0.55 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $58,900 | $65,150 | $84,100 | $100,840 | $106,600 | $84,950 | ||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 7,430 | 0.41 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $53,210 | $64,100 | $82,550 | $107,340 | $124,400 | $88,160 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Florida | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 8,810 | 0.89 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $49,960 | $51,630 | $58,100 | $62,520 | $77,460 | $59,970 | ||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 7,430 | 0.41 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $53,210 | $64,100 | $82,550 | $107,340 | $124,400 | $88,160 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 6,950 | 0.72 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $49,020 | $62,380 | $77,630 | $103,570 | $137,710 | $86,620 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 5,370 | 1.25 | 1.79 |
| Annual | $60,040 | $62,830 | $74,210 | $96,940 | $102,870 | $78,110 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 5,270 | 1.49 | 2.12 |
| Annual | $65,400 | $79,150 | $99,960 | $108,050 | $125,990 | $95,380 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| El Centro, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.70 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $54,020 | $81,550 | $111,880 | $119,670 | $133,020 | $101,090 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 740 | 0.69 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $64,430 | $78,370 | $106,000 | $116,000 | $121,270 | $97,930 | ||||
| Modesto, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 160 | 0.80 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $60,580 | $81,210 | $103,790 | $124,550 | $127,630 | $107,550 | ||||
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 240 | 1.81 | 2.58 |
| Annual | $64,510 | $78,520 | $103,610 | $103,610 | $108,190 | $92,070 | ||||
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 290 | 1.47 | 2.10 |
| Annual | $64,800 | $79,680 | $102,450 | $121,390 | $123,550 | $98,850 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 8,180 | 0.86 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $59,120 | $63,940 | $77,400 | $102,180 | $136,500 | $87,020 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 3,350 | 0.74 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $48,640 | $59,630 | $70,250 | $91,080 | $106,510 | $74,470 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 2,650 | 0.92 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $58,790 | $61,000 | $75,690 | $80,450 | $96,720 | $74,180 | ||||
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 2,610 | 3.78 | 5.40 |
| Annual | $51,280 | $51,830 | $61,760 | $63,270 | $74,830 | $60,550 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 2,530 | 1.21 | 1.73 |
| Annual | $76,360 | $81,670 | $101,580 | $124,970 | $129,940 | $101,370 | ||||
Top industries employing kindergarten teachers, except special education
Elementary and Secondary Schools employ 98.2% of kindergarten teachers, except special education nationally (106,960 jobs) at a median $62,800 a year, followed by Child Care Services (1.3%) and Religious Organizations (0.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 106,960 | 98.2% | $62,800 | * |
| Child Care Services NAICS 624400 | 1,380 | 1.3% | $46,920 | * |
| Religious Organizations NAICS 813100 | 130 | 0.1% | $52,240 | * |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 80 | 0.1% | $37,940 | * |
| Civic and Social Organizations NAICS 813400 | 80 | 0.1% | $50,590 | * |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (108,870). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $60,900 for kindergarten teachers, except special education in May 2021 and $62,680 in May 2025, with employment of 120,730 and 108,870.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $60,900 | * | 120,730 |
| May 2022 | $60,490 | * | 119,250 |
| May 2023 | $62,690 | * | 118,580 |
| May 2024 | $61,430 | * | 114,410 |
| May 2025 | $62,680 | * | 108,870 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | * | $99,960 | $65,400 | $125,990 | 5,270 | 1.49 | 2.12 |
| 2 | Connecticut profile | * | $90,030 | $61,730 | $111,450 | 1,420 | 0.84 | 1.20 |
| 3 | Rhode Island profile | * | $85,470 | $38,050 | $99,320 | 360 | 0.71 | 1.02 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | * | $84,100 | $58,900 | $106,600 | 1,980 | 0.55 | 0.78 |
| 5 | California profile | * | $82,550 | $53,210 | $124,400 | 7,430 | 0.41 | 0.58 |
| 6 | District of Columbia profile | * | $81,500 | $63,530 | $123,530 | 180 | 0.26 | 0.37 |
| 7 | New York profile | * | $77,630 | $49,020 | $137,710 | 6,950 | 0.72 | 1.02 |
| 8 | Maryland profile | * | $75,910 | $56,520 | $108,360 | 1,560 | 0.56 | 0.80 |
| 9 | Minnesota profile | * | $75,500 | $45,280 | $98,680 | 2,840 | 0.96 | 1.38 |
| 10 | New Mexico profile | * | $74,380 | $51,420 | $88,570 | 950 | 1.09 | 1.56 |
| 11 | New Jersey profile | * | $74,210 | $60,040 | $102,870 | 5,370 | 1.25 | 1.79 |
| 12 | Delaware profile | * | $74,030 | $46,940 | $82,950 | 70 | 0.15 | 0.21 |
| 13 | Ohio profile | * | $72,570 | $46,040 | $97,880 | 3,290 | 0.59 | 0.85 |
| 14 | Oregon profile | * | $68,580 | $49,190 | $98,100 | 1,330 | 0.68 | 0.96 |
| 15 | Georgia profile | * | $65,680 | $48,610 | $95,070 | 4,530 | 0.93 | 1.32 |
| 16 | Nevada profile | * | $64,930 | $55,020 | $82,740 | 1,400 | 0.90 | 1.29 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania profile | * | $64,430 | $41,700 | $92,600 | 2,510 | 0.41 | 0.59 |
| 18 | Illinois profile | * | $64,020 | $46,040 | $103,420 | 4,660 | 0.76 | 1.09 |
| 19 | Virginia profile | * | $63,920 | $48,850 | $100,930 | 3,740 | 0.91 | 1.30 |
| 20 | Texas profile | * | $63,780 | $43,730 | $72,640 | 3,820 | 0.27 | 0.39 |
| 21 | Michigan profile | * | $63,300 | $39,070 | $95,320 | 1,890 | 0.43 | 0.61 |
| 22 | Vermont profile | * | $63,280 | $49,120 | $89,030 | 250 | 0.81 | 1.16 |
| 23 | Utah profile | * | $63,190 | $40,900 | $95,620 | 530 | 0.31 | 0.44 |
| 24 | Colorado profile | * | $62,870 | $47,300 | $97,710 | 3,260 | 1.14 | 1.62 |
| 25 | Idaho profile | * | $62,240 | $49,840 | $81,240 | 460 | 0.54 | 0.77 |
| 26 | Nebraska profile | * | $62,200 | $46,260 | $78,160 | 1,120 | 1.10 | 1.57 |
| 27 | Wyoming profile | * | $60,990 | $50,980 | $75,280 | 360 | 1.30 | 1.86 |
| 28 | South Carolina profile | * | $60,890 | $47,730 | $79,090 | 1,540 | 0.67 | 0.96 |
| 29 | Kentucky profile | * | $60,280 | $44,980 | $79,920 | 2,450 | 1.22 | 1.75 |
| 30 | New Hampshire profile | * | $60,240 | $47,150 | $83,570 | 520 | 0.77 | 1.09 |
| 31 | North Dakota profile | * | $59,420 | $47,490 | $77,890 | 600 | 1.39 | 1.99 |
| 32 | Wisconsin profile | * | $59,350 | $39,990 | $79,340 | 1,510 | 0.51 | 0.73 |
| 33 | West Virginia profile | * | $58,790 | $47,630 | $72,210 | 730 | 1.04 | 1.48 |
| 34 | Iowa profile | * | $58,420 | $47,020 | $75,860 | 1,160 | 0.74 | 1.06 |
| 35 | Indiana profile | * | $58,250 | $46,260 | $76,200 | 2,120 | 0.66 | 0.95 |
| 36 | Florida profile | * | $58,100 | $49,960 | $77,460 | 8,810 | 0.89 | 1.27 |
| 37 | Tennessee profile | * | $58,070 | $46,980 | $74,440 | 2,740 | 0.84 | 1.19 |
| 38 | Kansas profile | * | $56,670 | $47,180 | $65,070 | 1,300 | 0.90 | 1.29 |
| 39 | Missouri profile | * | $56,590 | $44,520 | $79,100 | 2,300 | 0.78 | 1.12 |
| 40 | North Carolina profile | * | $53,180 | $40,760 | $63,620 | 2,250 | 0.46 | 0.65 |
| 41 | Hawaii profile | * | $53,160 | $47,740 | $75,340 | 90 | 0.15 | 0.21 |
| 42 | Louisiana profile | * | $53,130 | $44,720 | $60,530 | 3,730 | 1.93 | 2.76 |
| 43 | Arizona profile | * | $52,830 | $45,850 | $76,760 | 3,020 | 0.93 | 1.33 |
| 44 | Maine profile | * | $52,660 | $45,350 | $79,290 | 570 | 0.90 | 1.28 |
| 45 | Arkansas profile | * | $52,060 | $47,240 | $65,710 | 1,490 | 1.14 | 1.63 |
| 46 | Alabama profile | * | $50,900 | $37,400 | $67,510 | 310 | 0.15 | 0.21 |
| 47 | South Dakota profile | * | $49,410 | $46,520 | $59,910 | 610 | 1.33 | 1.90 |
| 48 | Mississippi profile | * | $48,880 | $37,980 | $60,110 | 1,350 | 1.16 | 1.66 |
| 49 | Oklahoma profile | * | $47,860 | $43,790 | $60,420 | 1,690 | 0.99 | 1.41 |
| 50 | Montana profile | * | $47,590 | $38,570 | $81,070 | 400 | 0.77 | 1.11 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (25-2010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Educational Instruction and Library Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 25-2012 Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them. A withheld or top-coded cell in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 25-2012, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 25-2012.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.