Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2011) earn a median $38,140 a year ($18.34 an hour) in the United States, with 478,780 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What preschool teachers, except special education do
Preschool teachers instruct preschool-aged children, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities that promote social, physical, and intellectual growth. Alternate titles such as child care teacher, day care teacher, and early childhood educator show the range of settings. Typical tasks include teaching basic skills such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, and personal hygiene, setting and enforcing rules for behavior, adapting methods and materials to children's varying needs and interests, and providing materials children can explore and manipulate. They also serve meals and snacks in line with nutritional guidelines, attend to basic needs such as feeding, dressing, and changing diapers, lead games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips, and meet with parents or guardians about each child's progress. The job differs from that of childcare workers, who are counted separately, as are special education teachers and short-term substitutes.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also called: After School Teacher, Child Care Assistant Teacher, Child Development Teacher, Childcare Teacher, Childhood Development Teacher.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $13.94 | $16.60 | $18.34 | $22.86 | $29.52 | $20.69 | 478,780 |
| Annual | $28,990 | $34,530 | $38,140 | $47,550 | $61,390 | $43,030 | ||
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 preschool 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 | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $19.35 | $21.87 | $29.88 | $37.24 | $52.05 | $32.74 | 2,350 | 3.34 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $40,240 | $45,490 | $62,150 | $77,450 | $108,270 | $68,100 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $17.62 | $21.35 | $23.91 | $28.58 | $31.74 | $25.25 | 940 | 3.10 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $36,650 | $44,400 | $49,730 | $59,440 | $66,020 | $52,520 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $17.87 | $19.85 | $23.45 | $28.01 | $30.82 | $24.36 | 1,410 | 2.24 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $37,160 | $41,280 | $48,780 | $58,270 | $64,110 | $50,670 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $17.80 | $18.77 | $23.19 | $30.95 | $41.79 | $27.30 | 16,190 | 3.78 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $37,020 | $39,030 | $48,220 | $64,370 | $86,910 | $56,770 | ||||
| Kansas | Hourly | $13.39 | $18.00 | $22.96 | $26.75 | $29.71 | $22.39 | 1,330 | 0.93 | 0.30 |
| Annual | $27,850 | $37,450 | $47,750 | $55,640 | $61,790 | $46,580 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.21 | $21.11 | $22.79 | $28.44 | $31.42 | $24.61 | 55,700 | 3.06 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $37,870 | $43,910 | $47,400 | $59,150 | $65,350 | $51,190 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $12.71 | $13.66 | $16.28 | $18.12 | $23.89 | $17.29 | 41,200 | 2.93 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $26,430 | $28,420 | $33,860 | $37,690 | $49,680 | $35,970 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $14.21 | $14.68 | $17.24 | $18.08 | $22.59 | $17.81 | 35,740 | 3.60 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $29,550 | $30,520 | $35,860 | $37,610 | $46,980 | $37,040 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.33 | $18.56 | $22.37 | $28.69 | $36.38 | $24.97 | 23,870 | 2.46 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $36,050 | $38,610 | $46,520 | $59,680 | $75,660 | $51,930 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $14.23 | $15.00 | $17.33 | $18.40 | $22.34 | $17.91 | 22,760 | 3.75 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $29,590 | $31,200 | $36,050 | $38,270 | $46,460 | $37,250 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Vineland, NJ | Hourly | $17.52 | $21.00 | $30.45 | $37.68 | $41.25 | $30.08 | 330 | 5.34 | 1.73 |
| Annual | $36,430 | $43,670 | $63,340 | $78,380 | $85,790 | $62,570 | ||||
| Albany, GA | Hourly | $13.35 | $16.70 | $30.14 | $38.32 | $47.35 | $29.84 | 400 | 6.84 | 2.22 |
| Annual | $27,760 | $34,740 | $62,680 | $79,700 | $98,480 | $62,070 | ||||
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | Hourly | $17.65 | $18.46 | $28.52 | $32.78 | $46.49 | $28.16 | 460 | 2.71 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $36,710 | $38,390 | $59,320 | $68,170 | $96,700 | $58,560 | ||||
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | Hourly | $13.75 | $16.53 | $27.89 | $39.88 | $48.06 | $27.97 | 100 | 2.09 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $28,600 | $34,380 | $58,000 | $82,960 | $99,960 | $58,180 | ||||
| Fairbanks-College, AK | Hourly | $16.91 | $22.74 | $27.73 | $29.13 | $30.55 | $25.59 | 60 | 1.77 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $35,170 | $47,300 | $57,680 | $60,590 | $63,550 | $53,230 | ||||
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 | $17.85 | $20.64 | $24.15 | $29.93 | $37.85 | $26.70 | 28,140 | 2.96 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $37,130 | $42,920 | $50,230 | $62,250 | $78,740 | $55,540 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.11 | $20.94 | $22.41 | $28.86 | $29.65 | $24.30 | 18,430 | 2.94 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $37,670 | $43,560 | $46,600 | $60,020 | $61,670 | $50,550 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $17.62 | $18.15 | $20.70 | $22.72 | $29.39 | $21.99 | 17,180 | 3.81 | 1.24 |
| Annual | $36,650 | $37,750 | $43,050 | $47,250 | $61,120 | $45,740 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $14.59 | $17.06 | $17.67 | $21.17 | $28.50 | $19.83 | 15,260 | 5.27 | 1.71 |
| Annual | $30,350 | $35,470 | $36,750 | $44,030 | $59,280 | $41,250 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $17.48 | $18.12 | $22.13 | $23.13 | $28.53 | $23.17 | 14,500 | 5.36 | 1.74 |
| Annual | $36,360 | $37,680 | $46,030 | $48,110 | $59,340 | $48,190 | ||||
Top industries employing preschool teachers, except special education
Child Care Services employ 72.6% of preschool teachers, except special education nationally (347,720 jobs) at a median $36,850 a year ($17.72 an hour), followed by Elementary and Secondary Schools (16.4%) and Individual and Family Services (2.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child Care Services NAICS 624400 | 347,720 | 72.6% | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 78,390 | 16.4% | $56,750 | $27.29 |
| Individual and Family Services NAICS 624100 | 12,760 | 2.7% | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Religious Organizations NAICS 813100 | 9,020 | 1.9% | $45,960 | $22.10 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 6,040 | 1.3% | $45,930 | $22.08 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (478,780). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $30,210 for preschool teachers, except special education in May 2021 and $38,140 in May 2025, with employment of 391,670 and 478,780.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $30,210 | $14.52 | 391,670 |
| May 2022 | $35,330 | $16.99 | 415,360 |
| May 2023 | $37,130 | $17.85 | 430,240 |
| May 2024 | $37,120 | $17.85 | 445,080 |
| May 2025 | $38,140 | $18.34 | 478,780 |
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
51 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 | District of Columbia profile | $29.88 | $62,150 | $40,240 | $108,270 | 2,350 | 3.34 | 1.09 |
| 2 | Vermont profile | $23.91 | $49,730 | $36,650 | $66,020 | 940 | 3.10 | 1.01 |
| 3 | Hawaii profile | $23.45 | $48,780 | $37,160 | $64,110 | 1,410 | 2.24 | 0.73 |
| 4 | New Jersey profile | $23.19 | $48,220 | $37,020 | $86,910 | 16,190 | 3.78 | 1.23 |
| 5 | Kansas profile | $22.96 | $47,750 | $27,850 | $61,790 | 1,330 | 0.93 | 0.30 |
| 6 | California profile | $22.79 | $47,400 | $37,870 | $65,350 | 55,700 | 3.06 | 0.99 |
| 7 | Nebraska profile | $22.62 | $47,040 | $31,620 | $73,620 | 1,630 | 1.59 | 0.52 |
| 8 | New York profile | $22.37 | $46,520 | $36,050 | $75,660 | 23,870 | 2.46 | 0.80 |
| 9 | Alaska profile | $22.18 | $46,130 | $35,090 | $76,950 | 520 | 1.61 | 0.52 |
| 10 | Massachusetts profile | $22.06 | $45,890 | $35,890 | $60,440 | 18,710 | 5.14 | 1.67 |
| 11 | Connecticut profile | $21.99 | $45,740 | $35,460 | $80,400 | 5,230 | 3.08 | 1.00 |
| 12 | Washington profile | $21.95 | $45,660 | $38,080 | $60,130 | 13,210 | 3.72 | 1.21 |
| 13 | Colorado profile | $21.87 | $45,500 | $35,820 | $84,700 | 5,210 | 1.81 | 0.59 |
| 14 | Oregon profile | $21.70 | $45,140 | $35,680 | $63,550 | 6,300 | 3.20 | 1.04 |
| 15 | Maryland profile | $21.44 | $44,600 | $35,760 | $67,510 | 8,020 | 2.90 | 0.94 |
| 16 | South Dakota profile | $21.39 | $44,500 | $30,980 | $56,370 | 1,470 | 3.22 | 1.05 |
| 17 | New Mexico profile | $21.19 | $44,070 | $32,270 | $79,560 | 2,490 | 2.85 | 0.93 |
| 18 | Georgia profile | $21.12 | $43,920 | $28,150 | $77,130 | 16,850 | 3.45 | 1.12 |
| 19 | Maine profile | $21.10 | $43,890 | $36,170 | $60,110 | 1,110 | 1.74 | 0.56 |
| 20 | Minnesota profile | $20.88 | $43,430 | $36,060 | $61,190 | 10,320 | 3.50 | 1.14 |
| 21 | Illinois profile | $19.67 | $40,910 | $36,030 | $60,890 | 22,420 | 3.68 | 1.19 |
| 22 | North Dakota profile | $19.10 | $39,720 | $25,990 | $59,560 | 540 | 1.26 | 0.41 |
| 23 | New Hampshire profile | $18.92 | $39,350 | $34,670 | $51,470 | 2,220 | 3.26 | 1.06 |
| 24 | Nevada profile | $18.69 | $38,870 | $30,100 | $64,590 | 2,360 | 1.52 | 0.49 |
| 25 | Louisiana profile | $18.28 | $38,020 | $23,700 | $59,970 | 3,570 | 1.85 | 0.60 |
| 26 | Virginia profile | $17.86 | $37,140 | $30,290 | $60,710 | 13,570 | 3.30 | 1.07 |
| 27 | Michigan profile | $17.84 | $37,110 | $30,310 | $50,720 | 10,950 | 2.49 | 0.81 |
| 28 | Rhode Island profile | $17.71 | $36,830 | $31,200 | $46,180 | 1,890 | 3.77 | 1.22 |
| 29 | Indiana profile | $17.62 | $36,650 | $28,720 | $50,920 | 7,110 | 2.22 | 0.72 |
| 30 | Montana profile | $17.57 | $36,540 | $28,370 | $49,550 | 960 | 1.88 | 0.61 |
| 31 | Delaware profile | $17.48 | $36,360 | $31,200 | $44,270 | 2,000 | 4.13 | 1.34 |
| 32 | Arizona profile | $17.45 | $36,300 | $31,760 | $47,790 | 9,400 | 2.90 | 0.94 |
| 33 | Mississippi profile | $17.43 | $36,250 | $20,980 | $53,370 | 3,600 | 3.09 | 1.00 |
| 34 | Wisconsin profile | $17.39 | $36,160 | $28,530 | $46,090 | 11,330 | 3.85 | 1.25 |
| 35 | Missouri profile | $17.35 | $36,090 | $29,030 | $54,610 | 5,580 | 1.90 | 0.62 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania profile | $17.33 | $36,050 | $29,590 | $46,460 | 22,760 | 3.75 | 1.22 |
| 37 | Florida profile | $17.24 | $35,860 | $29,550 | $46,980 | 35,740 | 3.60 | 1.17 |
| 38 | North Carolina profile | $17.17 | $35,710 | $28,700 | $47,530 | 18,370 | 3.72 | 1.21 |
| 39 | Ohio profile | $16.91 | $35,180 | $27,260 | $48,240 | 19,840 | 3.57 | 1.16 |
| 40 | Utah profile | $16.83 | $35,010 | $28,770 | $47,300 | 3,670 | 2.11 | 0.69 |
| 41 | South Carolina profile | $16.59 | $34,500 | $26,820 | $49,900 | 4,550 | 1.97 | 0.64 |
| 42 | Tennessee profile | $16.48 | $34,280 | $27,160 | $64,480 | 5,420 | 1.65 | 0.54 |
| 43 | Arkansas profile | $16.44 | $34,190 | $27,190 | $56,690 | 3,270 | 2.51 | 0.81 |
| 44 | Texas profile | $16.28 | $33,860 | $26,430 | $49,680 | 41,200 | 2.93 | 0.95 |
| 45 | Iowa profile | $16.26 | $33,830 | $27,730 | $48,390 | 5,910 | 3.79 | 1.23 |
| 46 | Idaho profile | $15.77 | $32,800 | $26,500 | $46,950 | 1,010 | 1.18 | 0.38 |
| 47 | West Virginia profile | $15.62 | $32,480 | $23,520 | $58,810 | 2,190 | 3.12 | 1.01 |
| 48 | Oklahoma profile | $15.29 | $31,790 | $23,100 | $58,130 | 7,010 | 4.11 | 1.33 |
| 49 | Wyoming profile | $14.39 | $29,930 | $23,600 | $58,880 | 1,040 | 3.71 | 1.20 |
| 50 | Kentucky profile | $14.32 | $29,780 | $23,490 | $51,760 | 8,520 | 4.26 | 1.38 |
| 51 | Alabama profile | $13.61 | $28,310 | $21,150 | $47,350 | 7,910 | 3.74 | 1.22 |
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 25-2011 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education.
- 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.
- 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.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 25-2011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 25-2011.00, 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.