As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Preschool Teacher in the United States is $43,160. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $35,365 to a high of $54,527, with most professionals earning between $39,080 and $49,110.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $49,110 | $4,093 | $944 | $24 |
| Average | $43,160 | $3,597 | $830 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,080 | $3,257 | $752 | $19 |
An entry-level Preschool Teacher with less than 1 year of experience earns about $41,516. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $41,820. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $44,492. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $45,824, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $46,268.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Preschool Teacher | $41,516 |
| Intermediate Level Preschool Teacher | $41,820 |
| Senior Level Preschool Teacher | $44,492 |
| Specialist Level Preschool Teacher | $45,824 |
| Expert Level Preschool Teacher | $46,268 |
| Entry Level | 4% |
| Mid Level | 3% |
| Senior Level | 3% |
| Top Level | 6% |
| Experienced | 7% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Preschool Teacher compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $43,052 in 2023 to approximately $43,171 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Preschool Teacher salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Preschool Teacher information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Preschool Teacher job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Preschool Teacher and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $43,160 | 69.0% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $3,302 | 5.3% | ||
| 401K/403B | $2,029 | 3.2% | ||
| Disability | $345 | 0.6% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,056 | 9.7% | ||
| Pension | $2,374 | 3.8% | ||
| Time Off | $5,312 | 8.5% | ||
| Total Compensation | $62,577 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 1.0% |
| High School | 27.5% |
| Associates | 24.5% |
| Bachelors | 39.7% |
| Masters | 7.2% |
| Doctorate | 0.2% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Preschool Teacher is $43,160. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Preschool Teacher is $21; the average weekly pay of Preschool Teacher is $830; the average monthly pay of Preschool Teacher is $3,597.
A Preschool Teacher's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Preschool Teacher earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Preschool Teacher is $54,440.
The highest pay for Preschool Teacher is $54,527.
The lowest pay for Preschool Teacher is $35,365.
The Preschool Teacher designs and structures the curriculum and monitors students' progress to ensure activities are meeting the children's needs. Oversees the educational activities of children within the day care classroom. Being a Preschool Teacher participates in parent conferences to discuss child's growth and development. Maintains a clean, safe, and nurturing environment. In addition, Preschool Teacher typically requires an associate degree in early childhood education or equivalent. Typically requires Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Being a Preschool Teacher occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Working as a Preschool Teacher typically requires 2 -4 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Planning: An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
Professional Development: Professional development refers to continuing education and career training after a person has entered the workforce in order to help them develop new skills, stay up-to-date on current trends, and advance their career.
Classroom Management: Classroom Management is a term teachers use to describe the process of ensuring that classroom lessons run smoothly without disruptive behavior from students compromising the delivery of instruction.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
