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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Before negotiating salary, check what the market actually pays — city by city. The national median salary for Preschool Teachers in 2026 is $40,333, with entry-level positions averaging $29,040 and senior roles reaching $57,273. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Santa Clara pays a median of $75,075, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Education within the broader Education industry, Preschool Teachers typically hold Associate's or bachelor's. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is school-based. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$43,781 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Preschool Teacher in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $75,075 — $43,781 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($31,294). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Preschool Teachers in 2026: $29,040 at entry (P10), $40,333 at midpoint, and $57,273 at the senior end (P90). The city-level data complicates the national narrative. The $28,233 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $40,034 below the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Santa Clara, Irvine, San Francisco) averages $71,064, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Jackson, Macon) averages $32,063. The $39,001 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Preschool Teacher in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $75,075 — $43,781 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($31,294). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The 10th-percentile (entry-level) Preschool Teacher salary averages $29,040 nationally. That's below the typical median household income, which means early-career earnings depend heavily on location and cost of living.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $29,040 | $40,333 | $57,273 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £15,074 | £20,936 | £29,730 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$27,586 | CA$38,314 | CA$54,405 |
| Australia | 13 | A$32,496 | A$45,134 | A$64,090 |
| Sweden | 24 | 179,483 kr | 249,281 kr | 353,979 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $36,889 | $51,235 | $72,754 |
| California | 61 | $33,144 | $46,033 | $65,367 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $31,952 | $44,377 | $63,016 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $31,113 | $43,213 | $61,362 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $30,296 | $42,078 | $59,751 |
| Washington | 8 | $29,690 | $41,236 | $58,556 |
| Oregon | 5 | $29,359 | $40,776 | $57,902 |
| Colorado | 11 | $29,204 | $40,561 | $57,597 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $29,188 | $40,539 | $57,566 |
| New York | 5 | $29,049 | $40,345 | $57,290 |
| Illinois | 5 | $28,983 | $40,254 | $57,161 |
| Nevada | 5 | $28,651 | $39,792 | $56,505 |
| Virginia | 7 | $28,634 | $39,770 | $56,473 |
| Idaho | 3 | $28,635 | $39,770 | $56,474 |
| Utah | 4 | $28,396 | $39,439 | $56,003 |
| Florida | 22 | $28,369 | $39,402 | $55,951 |
| Arizona | 12 | $28,342 | $39,363 | $55,896 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $28,308 | $39,316 | $55,829 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $27,981 | $38,862 | $55,184 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $27,790 | $38,597 | $54,808 |
| Michigan | 6 | $27,758 | $38,553 | $54,745 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $27,744 | $38,534 | $54,718 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $27,686 | $38,453 | $54,603 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $27,245 | $37,840 | $53,733 |
| Alaska | 1 | $27,245 | $37,840 | $53,733 |
| Iowa | 2 | $27,245 | $37,840 | $53,733 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $27,245 | $37,840 | $53,733 |
| Montana | 1 | $27,245 | $37,840 | $53,733 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $26,872 | $37,323 | $52,998 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $26,837 | $37,273 | $52,927 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $26,833 | $37,268 | $52,921 |
| Texas | 40 | $26,797 | $37,218 | $52,849 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $26,707 | $37,093 | $52,672 |
| Georgia | 6 | $26,632 | $36,989 | $52,524 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $26,598 | $36,941 | $52,457 |
| Indiana | 3 | $26,528 | $36,844 | $52,318 |
| Alabama | 5 | $26,231 | $36,432 | $51,734 |
| Ohio | 6 | $26,173 | $36,352 | $51,620 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $26,155 | $36,326 | $51,583 |
| Maryland | 1 | $26,128 | $36,289 | $51,530 |
| Missouri | 4 | $26,108 | $36,260 | $51,490 |
| Kansas | 4 | $26,046 | $36,175 | $51,369 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $25,937 | $36,024 | $51,154 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $25,801 | $35,835 | $50,885 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $24,139 | $33,526 | $47,607 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $23,022 | $31,975 | $45,404 |
At the state level, Hawaii leads with an average Preschool Teacher median of $51,235 across 1 cities, followed by California ($46,033) and Massachusetts ($44,377). The state breakdown adds another layer. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Arkansas, Nebraska — offer medians between $31,975 and $35,835. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($75,075 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $37,917 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $55,436 | 146 | $37,970 | $36,573 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $75,075 | 198 | $37,917 | $47,777 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $57,252 | 151 | $37,915 | $40,071 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $64,063 | 169 | $37,907 | $41,495 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $67,090 | 177 | $37,904 | $43,222 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $69,739 | 184 | $37,902 | $44,733 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $64,025 | 169 | $37,885 | $49,989 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $60,885 | 161 | $37,817 | $39,682 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $55,587 | 147 | $37,814 | $36,659 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $55,209 | 146 | $37,814 | $36,444 |
From a career planning perspective, Preschool Teacher offers a $28,233 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Associate's or bachelor's. Day-to-day, expect school-based work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Preschool Teachers is $40,333 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $29,040, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $57,273.
The highest-paying city for Preschool Teachers is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $75,075. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($75,075), Irvine ($69,739), San Francisco ($68,377). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Preschool Teacher salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $31,294. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Preschool Teachers (10th percentile) average $29,040 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $54,054. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Preschool Teachers average $57,273 nationally — $28,233 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Preschool Teachers can earn up to $106,606.
The top-paying states for Preschool Teachers are Hawaii ($51,235 median), California ($46,033 median), Massachusetts ($44,377 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Preschool Teacher involves Associate's or bachelor's. The field is in the Education sector (Education), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically school-based.
With a national median of $40,333 and representation across 288 metro areas, Preschool Teacher offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $28,233 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.