How much does a preschool teacher make?
a year · about $18 an hour
A typical preschool teacher in the United States makes $38,140 a year, about $18 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They lead stories and rhyming games for language, then use blocks and group play to practice counting and sharing, with time for movement and rest. They watch each child’s progress, keep notes, and update families.
Did you know? Preschool teachers can turn block play into a math lesson: children practice counting as they build.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $28,990 and $61,390How do you become one?
Most U.S. preschool teachers need at least an associate degree; public-school jobs generally require a bachelor’s degree, a state teaching license, and an exam. Requirements vary by state and setting.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like helping and teaching and creating
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, training or a license, and location. It also varies by employer—such as a public school versus a child-care center—and by duties and schedules, since some jobs run year-round or have longer hours.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in District of Columbia ($62,150), lowest in Alabama ($28,310).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Kids' questions
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28,990 | $38,140 | $61,390 | about 479,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $62,150 | about 2,000 |
| Vermont | $49,730 | about 940 |
| Hawaii | $48,780 | about 1,000 |
| New Jersey | $48,220 | about 16,000 |
| Kansas | $47,750 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth. Excludes “Special Education Teachers” (25-2050), “Substitute Teachers, Short-Term” (25-3031), and “Childcare Workers” (39-9011).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/preschool-teachers.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-2011.00
- headstart.gov/publication/education-requirements-center-based-preschool-teachers
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY