Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Preschool teachers, except special education (SOC 25-2011) employed 478,780 people in May 2025. The median pay is $38,140 a year ($18.34 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,990 and the highest-paid 10% more than $61,390. BLS projects its employment to change by +4.5% between 2025 and 2035 (about 66,700 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Associate's degree.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($62,150), Vermont ($49,730), Hawaii ($48,780). Most jobs: California (55,700), Texas (41,200), Florida (35,740).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,990 | $13.94 |
| 25th percentile | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| Median | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Mean | $43,030 | $20.69 |
| 75th percentile | $47,550 | $22.86 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $61,390 | $29.51 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 583,200 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 609,400 |
| Change in jobs | 26,200 |
| Percent change | +4.5% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 66,700 |
| Self-employed share | 0.9% |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 7,910 | 1.22 | $28,310 | $21,150 | $47,350 | -26% | 46% |
| Alaska | 520 | 0.52 | $46,130 | $35,090 | $76,950 | +21% | 38% |
| Arizona | 9,400 | 0.94 | $36,300 | $31,760 | $47,790 | -5% | 55% |
| Arkansas | 3,270 | 0.81 | $34,190 | $27,190 | $56,690 | -10% | 34% |
| California | 55,700 | 0.99 | $47,400 | $37,870 | $65,350 | +24% | 53% |
| Colorado | 5,210 | 0.59 | $45,500 | $35,820 | $84,700 | +19% | 48% |
| Connecticut | 5,230 | 1.00 | $45,740 | $35,460 | $80,400 | +20% | 41% |
| Delaware | 2,000 | 1.34 | $36,360 | $31,200 | $44,270 | -5% | 50% |
| District of Columbia | 2,350 | 1.09 | $62,150 | $40,240 | $108,270 | +63% | 37% |
| Florida | 35,740 | 1.17 | $35,860 | $29,550 | $46,980 | -6% | 61% |
| Georgia | 16,850 | 1.12 | $43,920 | $28,150 | $77,130 | +15% | 41% |
| Hawaii | 1,410 | 0.73 | $48,780 | $37,160 | $64,110 | +28% | 48% |
| Idaho | 1,010 | 0.38 | $32,800 | $26,500 | $46,950 | -14% | 51% |
| Illinois | 22,420 | 1.19 | $40,910 | $36,030 | $60,890 | +7% | 39% |
| Indiana | 7,110 | 0.72 | $36,650 | $28,720 | $50,920 | -4% | 36% |
| Iowa | 5,910 | 1.23 | $33,830 | $27,730 | $48,390 | -11% | 35% |
| Kansas | 1,330 | 0.30 | $47,750 | $27,850 | $61,790 | +25% | 27% |
| Kentucky | 8,520 | 1.38 | $29,780 | $23,490 | $51,760 | -22% | 40% |
| Louisiana | 3,570 | 0.60 | $38,020 | $23,700 | $59,970 | -0% | 34% |
| Maine | 1,110 | 0.56 | $43,890 | $36,170 | $60,110 | +15% | 33% |
| Maryland | 8,020 | 0.94 | $44,600 | $35,760 | $67,510 | +17% | 46% |
| Massachusetts | 18,710 | 1.67 | $45,890 | $35,890 | $60,440 | +20% | 48% |
| Michigan | 10,950 | 0.81 | $37,110 | $30,310 | $50,720 | -3% | 38% |
| Minnesota | 10,320 | 1.14 | $43,430 | $36,060 | $61,190 | +14% | 36% |
| Mississippi | 3,600 | 1.00 | $36,250 | $20,980 | $53,370 | -5% | 33% |
| Missouri | 5,580 | 0.62 | $36,090 | $29,030 | $54,610 | -5% | 35% |
| Montana | 960 | 0.61 | $36,540 | $28,370 | $49,550 | -4% | 39% |
| Nebraska | 1,630 | 0.52 | $47,040 | $31,620 | $73,620 | +23% | 28% |
| Nevada | 2,360 | 0.49 | $38,870 | $30,100 | $64,590 | +2% | 53% |
| New Hampshire | 2,220 | 1.06 | $39,350 | $34,670 | $51,470 | +3% | 48% |
| New Jersey | 16,190 | 1.23 | $48,220 | $37,020 | $86,910 | +26% | 45% |
| New Mexico | 2,490 | 0.93 | $44,070 | $32,270 | $79,560 | +16% | 30% |
| New York | 23,870 | 0.80 | $46,520 | $36,050 | $75,660 | +22% | 42% |
| North Carolina | 18,370 | 1.21 | $35,710 | $28,700 | $47,530 | -6% | 45% |
| North Dakota | 540 | 0.41 | $39,720 | $25,990 | $59,560 | +4% | 30% |
| Ohio | 19,840 | 1.16 | $35,180 | $27,260 | $48,240 | -8% | 37% |
| Oklahoma | 7,010 | 1.33 | $31,790 | $23,100 | $58,130 | -17% | 39% |
| Oregon | 6,300 | 1.04 | $45,140 | $35,680 | $63,550 | +18% | 42% |
| Pennsylvania | 22,760 | 1.22 | $36,050 | $29,590 | $46,460 | -5% | 42% |
| Rhode Island | 1,890 | 1.22 | $36,830 | $31,200 | $46,180 | -3% | 46% |
| South Carolina | 4,550 | 0.64 | $34,500 | $26,820 | $49,900 | -10% | 44% |
| South Dakota | 1,470 | 1.05 | $44,500 | $30,980 | $56,370 | +17% | 27% |
| Tennessee | 5,420 | 0.54 | $34,280 | $27,160 | $64,480 | -10% | 45% |
| Texas | 41,200 | 0.95 | $33,860 | $26,430 | $49,680 | -11% | 52% |
| Utah | 3,670 | 0.69 | $35,010 | $28,770 | $47,300 | -8% | 55% |
| Vermont | 940 | 1.01 | $49,730 | $36,650 | $66,020 | +30% | 32% |
| Virginia | 13,570 | 1.07 | $37,140 | $30,290 | $60,710 | -3% | 53% |
| Washington | 13,210 | 1.21 | $45,660 | $38,080 | $60,130 | +20% | 48% |
| West Virginia | 2,190 | 1.01 | $32,480 | $23,520 | $58,810 | -15% | 33% |
| Wisconsin | 11,330 | 1.25 | $36,160 | $28,530 | $46,090 | -5% | 38% |
| Wyoming | 1,040 | 1.20 | $29,930 | $23,600 | $58,880 | -22% | 40% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland, NJ | 330 | $63,340 | $36,430 | $85,790 | 1.73 |
| Albany, GA | 400 | $62,680 | $27,760 | $98,480 | 2.22 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 460 | $59,320 | $36,710 | $96,700 | 0.88 |
| Visalia, CA | 430 | $56,930 | $37,080 | $75,100 | 0.82 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 10,280 | $53,810 | $45,960 | $71,800 | 1.41 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3,570 | $51,190 | $45,460 | $72,900 | 1.02 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 28,140 | $50,230 | $37,130 | $78,740 | 0.96 |
| Modesto, CA | 640 | $49,500 | $37,830 | $77,400 | 1.06 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,500 | $48,820 | $37,540 | $81,130 | 1.21 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,070 | $48,410 | $36,440 | $61,200 | 0.78 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 630 | $48,130 | $38,430 | $64,040 | 1.02 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 420 | $47,780 | $38,610 | $73,370 | 1.39 |
| Salinas, CA | 600 | $47,280 | $38,910 | $71,550 | 1.05 |
| Vallejo, CA | 450 | $46,960 | $38,660 | $64,980 | 1.01 |
| Rockford, IL | 380 | $46,730 | $35,480 | $76,400 | 0.89 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 620 | $46,710 | $39,580 | $64,240 | 0.98 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 350 | $46,690 | $37,720 | $67,350 | 0.94 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 18,430 | $46,600 | $37,670 | $61,670 | 0.95 |
| Boulder, CO | 390 | $46,530 | $36,660 | $80,140 | 0.66 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 680 | $46,470 | $36,890 | $62,960 | 0.77 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 8,590 | $46,380 | $40,840 | $60,620 | 1.34 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 710 | $46,370 | $31,230 | $57,380 | 1.29 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 320 | $46,200 | $36,960 | $61,870 | 0.86 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,260 | $46,120 | $37,510 | $65,340 | 1.26 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 14,500 | $46,030 | $36,360 | $59,340 | 1.74 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,560 | $46,010 | $37,000 | $64,430 | 0.67 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 360 | $45,960 | $35,450 | $80,730 | 0.92 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 890 | $45,880 | $36,310 | $61,060 | 0.85 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 3,210 | $45,680 | $36,590 | $84,700 | 0.65 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 340 | $45,430 | $36,370 | $83,400 | 1.67 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,950 | $45,310 | $37,570 | $68,240 | 1.06 |
| Gainesville, GA | 340 | $45,140 | $28,180 | $106,850 | 1.06 |
| Savannah, GA | 460 | $44,980 | $27,740 | $70,180 | 0.76 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 5,130 | $44,940 | $38,140 | $60,420 | 1.08 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 850 | $44,880 | $36,560 | $78,530 | 1.15 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,800 | $44,740 | $36,620 | $61,240 | 1.23 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 580 | $44,670 | $35,090 | $75,480 | 1.17 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 11,910 | $44,660 | $35,430 | $77,650 | 1.23 |
| Bend, OR | 390 | $44,610 | $37,360 | $60,340 | 1.16 |
| New Haven, CT | 810 | $44,610 | $36,100 | $77,880 | 0.93 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 320 | $44,540 | $32,110 | $62,900 | 1.80 |
| Worcester, MA | 1,650 | $44,460 | $35,810 | $60,760 | 1.53 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 800 | $44,440 | $31,620 | $63,330 | 0.52 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,690 | $44,300 | $35,330 | $75,200 | 0.91 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 3,070 | $44,250 | $37,780 | $62,050 | 0.92 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 400 | $44,180 | $36,410 | $58,950 | 1.00 |
| Chico, CA | 300 | $44,080 | $34,960 | $59,750 | 1.25 |
| Salem, OR | 650 | $44,060 | $36,650 | $59,120 | 1.12 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 1,170 | $44,050 | $31,710 | $73,530 | 0.94 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 7,650 | $43,960 | $36,080 | $61,190 | 1.27 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 550 | $43,900 | $35,210 | $59,030 | 1.13 |
| Springfield, MA | 740 | $43,890 | $35,370 | $58,980 | 1.20 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 1,000 | $43,790 | $36,360 | $58,750 | 0.72 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 430 | $43,290 | $36,620 | $51,490 | 1.07 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 17,180 | $43,050 | $36,650 | $61,120 | 1.24 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 880 | $43,030 | $35,560 | $65,310 | 1.06 |
| Rochester, MN | 470 | $42,750 | $34,150 | $59,130 | 1.24 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 730 | $42,570 | $24,560 | $63,240 | 0.53 |
| Yakima, WA | 380 | $41,670 | $36,510 | $59,160 | 1.28 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 400 | $40,850 | $33,690 | $59,830 | 0.41 |
The median is $38,140 a year ($18.34 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $28,990 and the highest-paid tenth over $61,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
478,780 in May 2025, and BLS projects +4.5% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Associate's degree (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $62,150 (among states with published figures).