Being an educator is one of the most important and rewarding careers. It offers the ability to make a difference in a child's life and have a hand in shaping the next generation. If you’re considering a job in education, one of the first things to figure out is what age group you prefer. If you’d prefer working with very young children, then being a preschool teacher could be a great option.
This article provides valuable insight into the average preschool teacher salary as well as more details about what the job entails, education requirements, and the projected job outlook.
Preschool teacher salary: National averages and trends
Preschool teacher salaries can range from around $28,000 to $60,000 annually. As of May 2024 data, the median annual wage was around $37,120 or $17.85 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Preschool teachers earning the least earn roughly $28,300 yearly, while top earners earn about $60,070.
|
Metric |
Amount |
|
Median annual salary |
$37,120 |
|
Hourly rate (median) |
$17.85 |
|
Salary range |
$28,300-$60,070 |
|
Number employed nationally (2024) |
555,100 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
How salary sources compare for preschool teachers (2026)
Different data sources use different methodologies — employer-reported survey data, job posting analysis, and crowdsourced self-reporting — which explains the range you'll see across sources. The BLS figure remains the most widely cited official benchmark.
| Source | Reported figure | Range | Data basis | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLS (OES) | $37,120 median | $28,300–$60,070 | Employer-reported national survey | May 2024 |
| Salary.com | $43,170 average | $33,350–$51,404 | Employer-reported compensation data | June 1, 2026 |
| Glassdoor | $44,081 average | $37,817–$51,634 | Employee self-reported (7,872 salaries) | June 2026 |
| Indeed | $17.70/hr (~$36,800/yr) | — | Job postings (92,900 salaries) | June 9, 2026 |
| ZipRecruiter | $35,981 average | $30,000–$40,000 | Job posting analysis | March 2026 |
| Zippia | $33,582 average | $23,000–$47,000 | Multi-source weighted average | February 2026 |
Sources: BLS OES, May 2024 | Salary.com, June 2026 | Glassdoor, June 2026 | Indeed, June 2026 | ZipRecruiter, March 2026 | Zippia, February 2026
Why the gap? The BLS OES figure is a national employer survey conducted annually in May; it tends to run lower because it captures all employer types, including small private centers with below-average pay. Salary.com and Glassdoor draw on more recent job posting data and employee self-reports, which skew toward active job seekers and markets with stronger compensation. Both data types are useful — BLS for policy benchmarking, aggregators for real-time market context.
How preschool teacher salaries compare to other educators
The $37,120 median places preschool teachers significantly below other educator roles. According to BLS May 2024 data, kindergarten teachers earn a median of $61,430 annually and elementary school teachers earn $62,340 — meaning preschool teachers earn approximately 40% less than both, despite often facing comparable credentialing requirements in many states. This wage gap is a recognized driver of workforce instability in early childhood education and an ongoing focus of state and federal policy discussions.
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Top-paying states and cities for preschool teachers
Preschool teacher salaries vary based on geographic location. According to BLS May 2024 data, states like Alabama average as low as $27,220 annually, while the highest-paying states top $50,000. The table below shows the five top-paying states.
|
Top paying states |
Annual mean wage for preschool teachers |
|
District of Columbia |
$59,420 |
|
New Jersey |
$52,770 |
|
Nebraska |
$50,760 |
|
New York |
$50,050 |
|
Massachusetts |
$48,630 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
The average salaries in the top paying metropolitan / nonmetropolitan areas all top the national average.
|
Metropolitan / nonmetropolitan area |
Annual mean wage for preschool teachers |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $64,270 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $63,500 |
| Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $59,170 |
| Vineland, NJ | $57,160 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,990 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
How much does a preschool teacher make based on experience level?
Experience is one of the most significant factors in preschool teacher pay. According to PayScale data from 2026, based on 1,954 salary profiles, the median hourly rate increases steadily from entry level through late career.
Entry-level preschool teachers typically earn around $15–$16/hr, while those with 20 or more years of experience average closer to $18/hr — with total annual pay ranging from $30,000 to $56,000 depending on setting and location.
| Experience level | Median hourly rate | Total pay range (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (less than 1 yr) | $15.45/hr | $24,000–$43,000 |
| Early career (1–4 yrs) | $15.95/hr | $25,000–$46,000 |
| Mid-career (5–9 yrs) | $17.06/hr | $27,000–$48,000 |
| Experienced (10–19 yrs) | $17.60/hr | $27,000–$53,000 |
| Late career (20+ yrs) | $17.94/hr | $30,000–$56,000 |
Source: PayScale, 2026 — Entry-level | Early career | Mid-career | Experienced | Late career
Factors that affect preschool teacher salary
Preschool teacher salaries can vary significantly depending on a number of factors—including geography, education level, experience, and workplace setting. Understanding these variables helps explain the wide salary ranges reported across different sources and locations.
1. Location (state and city-level differences)
Salaries for preschool teachers vary substantially by state and metropolitan area, often influenced by cost of living, local education funding, and licensing standards.
2. Educational attainment
Higher education credentials can unlock better-paying roles, particularly in public pre-K programs or Head Start centers.
-
Teachers with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education often qualify for higher wages and lead teacher positions.
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Some states require a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or a state-issued certificate for preschool teaching.
According to Salary.com, teachers with advanced credentials or certifications earn up to 15–20% more than peers without them.
3. Type of employer (public vs. private)
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Public preschools, especially those affiliated with school districts or funded by state Pre-K programs, tend to offer higher pay and benefits.
-
Private childcare centers, religious institutions, or in-home daycares typically offer lower salaries, though they may provide other forms of flexibility or perks.
4. Experience and tenure
As in most professions, experience plays a major role in compensation.
-
Entry-level preschool teachers (0–1 year): $30,000–$33,000
-
Mid-career (5–9 years): $38,000–$43,000
-
Late career (15+ years): $50,000+
Some public school roles include salary step systems that reward tenure, certification upgrades, and ongoing professional development.
Preschool teacher job outlook
The job outlook for preschool teachers is steady. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of preschool teachers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, keeping pace with the average growth rate across all occupations. Over that decade, the BLS projects approximately 65,500 job openings for preschool teachers each year — the majority driven by the need to replace educators who transfer to other fields or leave the workforce.
As of 2024, approximately 555,100 people were employed as preschool teachers in the United States. The largest employers are private childcare centers, public schools, and religious organizations.
Why demand is growing: Increased recognition of early childhood education's role in long-term academic outcomes is pushing enrollment into preschool programs, creating consistent demand for qualified teachers. This demand is expected to continue as more families seek structured early learning options for children ages 3–5.
Preschool teacher turnover and workforce challenges
Compensation is directly tied to workforce stability in early childhood education. According to Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland research analyzing workforce data from 2010 to 2022, childcare workers left their occupations at an average annual rate of 14.9 percent — significantly higher than preschool and kindergarten teachers (8.5 percent) and the typical occupation (9.1 percent).
Turnover rates vary significantly by center and region. The 2024 Early Childhood Workforce Index from UC Berkeley's Center for the Study of Child Care Employment notes that poor working conditions — driven by chronically low wages, limited benefits, and the expiration of pandemic-era relief funding — continue to fuel high turnover and make recruiting and retaining qualified staff difficult across program types.
For directors and program administrators, high turnover carries direct operational costs: recruiting, onboarding, and loss of institutional knowledge. Offering compensation competitive with your local market is one of the most effective tools available for improving teacher retention.
What are preschool teacher jobs really like?
Preschool typically begins for children between two and five years old. It’s a very tender time for children, especially regarding their overall development and growth. Preschool teachers have an immense responsibility to prepare these young children for the rest of their education. They do so by focusing on the four developmental domains: cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and language. Progress in these domains serves as the foundation for the academic skills children will learn in elementary school and beyond.
Since preschool teachers work with young children, they may be in a public or private elementary school, a standalone preschool, or an early childhood education program. Their classroom sizes can vary with a range of 10-24 children.
The role of a preschool teacher is to teach foundational skills that contribute to a child's learning and growth. Preschool is where children learn essential social and emotional skills that help them with conflict resolution, communication, and problem-solving.
Preschool teachers are also more involved with the families of their children since this is such a critical developmental stage. This communication between teacher and family is essential because it helps ensure alignment between what they’re learning at school and practicing at home. With software like brightwheel, teachers can have easier communication with families. The app enables teachers to instantly communicate with families and other staff, fostering better engagement with your program.
Overall, the main responsibilities of a preschool teacher include:
- Developing lesson plans based on the learning objectives and outcomes set by the school
- Teaching educational basics like the alphabet, numbers, colors, writing, and reading
- Assessing each child’s academic, social, and behavioral progress throughout the year and continuously adjusting their educational plan as needed
- Communicating with families about their child’s learning plan, overall development, and what they can do at home to supplement what they learn at school
- Managing a classroom, including helping children resolve conflicts and increasing their attention span
- Understanding how to identify and adjust to children who are experiencing behavioral issues, have a learning disorder, or are neurodiverse
Preschool teacher education requirements
The beginning of your journey to becoming an educator is, naturally, a good education. The minimum amount of education required to become a preschool teacher will depend on your state and whether you’ll teach in public schools. On top of a degree, a state or your specific school may also require an educator preparation program, various certifications, and a teaching license. Certain states may also require your degree to be in early childhood education specifically, or will require additional qualifications. Also, you may be required to renew your license or certification every few years.
Benefits of preschool teacher jobs
As with any job, you’ll be offered certain benefits in addition to your annual salary. This may include healthcare, childcare services, paid time off, retirement benefits, or opportunities for raises or professional development. Separately, there will also be the terms of your employment as a teacher. This may include your maximum classroom size, being provided an assistant, or whether the school year is 10 months long or year-round. The best preschool teacher job offer for you will depend on what fits your lifestyle and needs, and you can often negotiate for what’s most important to you.
Preschool differs from daycare, but there can be some overlap in age groups served and daycare teacher salary. Daycares are typically full-time childcare programs suitable for working families that typically serve infants and toddlers. Daycare is focused less on structure and academic growth and more on childcare and skills development.
Most daycares only require a GED or high school diploma to be a daycare worker, but more education and experience is typically recommended to move up to a daycare director. If flexible hours and more freedom in your day-to-day are especially important benefits to you, then being a daycare worker is another great career option to consider.
Childcare Staff Management: Recruitment, Retention, and Compliance
Frequently asked questions about preschool teacher salary
What is the average preschool teacher salary in the United States?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for preschool teachers was $37,120 as of May 2024, or approximately $17.85 per hour. Salaries range from around $28,300 for the lowest-paid 10 percent to roughly $60,070 for the highest-paid 10 percent, depending on location, experience, and employer type.
What state pays preschool teachers the most?
Among U.S. states, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Nebraska, New York, and Massachusetts are consistently the highest-paying for preschool teachers. According to BLS May 2024 data, D.C. leads with a mean annual wage of $59,420, followed by New Jersey at $52,770. However, some salary aggregators incorporating job-posting data place California and Washington among the top states as well.
How does experience affect a preschool teacher's salary?
Experience has a meaningful effect on preschool teacher pay. Entry-level teachers (0–1 years) typically earn between $30,000 and $33,000 annually, while those with 15 or more years of experience can earn $48,000 or more. According to Salary.com, preschool teachers with advanced credentials or specializations earn up to 15–20% more than peers without them.
Do preschool teachers in public schools earn more than those in private centers?
Yes, generally. School-based preschool teachers earn a mean wage of approximately $53,200, compared to $34,480 for those working in childcare settings, according to BLS data. Public programs affiliated with school districts or state pre-K programs typically offer higher wages and stronger benefits packages than private childcare centers or in-home programs.
What is the job outlook for preschool teachers?
Employment of preschool teachers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, in line with the national average for all occupations, according to the BLS. About 65,500 annual job openings are expected each year over the decade, primarily from the need to replace educators who leave the field.
How does a preschool teacher's salary compare to other educators?
Preschool teachers earn significantly less than most other educator roles. On a national median basis, preschool teachers earn approximately 40% less than kindergarten teachers and 48% less than elementary school teachers, despite comparable educational requirements in many states. This wage gap is a recognized driver of workforce turnover in early childhood education.
What education is required to become a preschool teacher?
Requirements vary by state and employer type. The BLS identifies an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education requirement, though many public school programs require a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. Some states accept a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or state-issued certificate for private preschool or childcare settings.
Can preschool teachers increase their salary?
Yes. According to Salary.com data, specialized skills — including coaching (+12%), IDEA/special education (+9%), and behavior management — can meaningfully increase earning potential. Pursuing advanced credentials, gaining experience, moving into public school or Head Start settings, or relocating to higher-paying states are all effective paths to higher compensation.
How brightwheel supports childcare programs and their staff
Running a high-quality preschool program means managing more than curriculum — directors must handle billing, staff scheduling, family communication, enrollment, and compliance documentation. Brightwheel is the #1-rated all-in-one childcare management platform, built specifically for early education programs. Brightwheel saves each admin and staff member 20 hours per month of administrative work, so educators can spend more time in the classroom and less time on paperwork.
With features including digital billing, payroll, attendance tracking, parent messaging, and lesson planning, brightwheel replaces two to three separate tools on average. 97% of teachers say brightwheel is easy to use, and 90% of administrators report that brightwheel increases the quality of their program.
For directors managing tight budgets and staff retention challenges, reducing administrative burden can make a meaningful difference in job satisfaction — which matters when preschool teacher turnover is already elevated relative to other occupations.
