Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary in the U.S.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education in the U.S. earn a median of $62,680 a year, based on BLS data for 108,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,830 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $69,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for kindergarten teachers, except special education in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,990 |
| 25th percentile | $52,180 |
| Median | $62,680 |
| 75th percentile | $79,910 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,830 |
| Average (mean) | $69,370 |
Half of kindergarten teachers, except special education earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,223.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,611.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,410.77 |
| Weekly | $1,205.38 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because kindergarten teachers, except special education are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $99,960 | 5,270 |
| Connecticut | $90,030 | 1,420 |
| Rhode Island | $85,470 | 360 |
| Massachusetts | $84,100 | 1,980 |
| California | $82,550 | 7,430 |
| District of Columbia | $81,500 | 180 |
| New York | $77,630 | 6,950 |
| Maryland | $75,910 | 1,560 |
| Minnesota | $75,500 | 2,840 |
| New Mexico | $74,380 | 950 |
| New Jersey | $74,210 | 5,370 |
| Delaware | $74,030 | 70 |
| Ohio | $72,570 | 3,290 |
| Oregon | $68,580 | 1,330 |
| Georgia | $65,680 | 4,530 |
| Nevada | $64,930 | 1,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,430 | 2,510 |
| Illinois | $64,020 | 4,660 |
| Virginia | $63,920 | 3,740 |
| Texas | $63,780 | 3,820 |
| Michigan | $63,300 | 1,890 |
| Vermont | $63,280 | 250 |
| Utah | $63,190 | 530 |
| Colorado | $62,870 | 3,260 |
| Idaho | $62,240 | 460 |
| Nebraska | $62,200 | 1,120 |
| Puerto Rico | $61,760 | 4,120 |
| Wyoming | $60,990 | 360 |
| South Carolina | $60,890 | 1,540 |
| Kentucky | $60,280 | 2,450 |
| New Hampshire | $60,240 | 520 |
| North Dakota | $59,420 | 600 |
| Wisconsin | $59,350 | 1,510 |
| West Virginia | $58,790 | 730 |
| Iowa | $58,420 | 1,160 |
| Indiana | $58,250 | 2,120 |
| Florida | $58,100 | 8,810 |
| Tennessee | $58,070 | 2,740 |
| Kansas | $56,670 | 1,300 |
| Missouri | $56,590 | 2,300 |
| North Carolina | $53,180 | 2,250 |
| Hawaii | $53,160 | 90 |
| Louisiana | $53,130 | 3,730 |
| Arizona | $52,830 | 3,020 |
| Maine | $52,660 | 570 |
| Arkansas | $52,060 | 1,490 |
| Alabama | $50,900 | 310 |
| South Dakota | $49,410 | 610 |
| Mississippi | $48,880 | 1,350 |
| Oklahoma | $47,860 | 1,690 |
| Montana | $47,590 | 400 |
Best-paying metro areas for kindergarten teachers, except special education
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | $111,880 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $106,000 | 740 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,790 | 160 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $103,610 | 240 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $102,450 | 290 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $101,780 | 130 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $101,580 | 2,530 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $99,770 | 40 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $99,660 | 440 |
| Bellingham, WA | $98,460 | 170 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $97,830 | 90 |
| Kingston, NY | $97,110 | 50 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $97,070 | 150 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $96,980 | 60 |
| Yuba City, CA | $96,570 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most kindergarten teachers, except special education
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 8,180 | $77,400 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,350 | $70,250 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,650 | $75,690 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 2,610 | $61,760 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,530 | $101,580 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2,420 | $57,300 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,400 | $77,200 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,310 | $56,920 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,900 | $80,780 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,610 | $74,960 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,570 | $78,400 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,500 | $81,700 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,490 | $64,190 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,280 | $60,290 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,270 | $65,970 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-2012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kindergarten teachers, except special education make in the U.S.?
The median salary for kindergarten teachers, except special education in the U.S. is $62,680 a year. Pay ranges from $46,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid kindergarten teachers, except special education make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of kindergarten teachers, except special education in the U.S. earn at least $101,830 a year. The top 25% earn $79,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for kindergarten teachers, except special education in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,990 a year, and a quarter of kindergarten teachers, except special education earn $52,180 or less.
How many kindergarten teachers, except special education work in the U.S.?
About 108,870 kindergarten teachers, except special education are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.