How Much Do Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers Make?
Having a clear understanding of earnings potential is important, especially if you are researching career paths or considering changing jobs. If you're one of those people, and you're curious what kind of salary preschool/kindergarten teachers make, you've come to the right place.
Using data from Lightcast,™ the Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled rich information about salary for preschool/kindergarten teachers and related jobs, including details about average compensation, salary trends and job growth. We've also gathered advertised salaries from actual job postings to provide insight into what employers of preschool/kindergarten teachers are offering as compensation.
Keep reading to learn more about how much preschool/kindergarten teachers can expect to make in the United States.
At a Glance: Salary & Jobs for Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers
According to data from 2023, there were about 28,945 positions for preschool/kindergarten teachers in the United States. In terms of salary, the national median salary for preschool/kindergarten teachers was reported to be $65,270. Additionally, when examining job demand, employers across the country posted 4,184 job postings related to positions for preschool/kindergarten teachers.
How Much Money Do Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers Make?
Median salary is just one data point. To build a better understanding of how much money preschool/kindergarten teachers and related positions can expect to make in the United States, it can be helpful to look at the full range of compensation for those jobs.
Let's look more deeply at data that was reported to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for detail into the lowest and highest salary earnings for preschool/kindergarten teachers.
Annual Salary for Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers
According to the BLS, the lowest earners for preschool/kindergarten teachers and related professions earned about $41,250 per year in 2023. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, the highest earners made about $135,170 annually.
As mentioned previously, the median salary for preschool/kindergarten teachers in the United States in 2023 was $65,270.
Annual Salary Range For Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers In 2023
Hourly Salary for Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers
The BLS also breaks down compensation for preschool/kindergarten teachers by hourly salary, and the median average hourly pay for preschool/kindergarten teachers in 2023 was $31. Lowest hourly earners took home $20 while the highest reported hourly salaries for preschool/kindergarten teachers was $65.
Hourly Salary Range For Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers In 2023
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers
Empower your students by maximizing their learning as an Ohio special education teacher in grades K-12.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Advertised Compensation for Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers
Data from the BLS is one way to dig into compensation for preschool/kindergarten teachers, but another way to build a more real-time understanding of salary is to look at actual job postings and see what compensation organizations are currently providing to fill open positions for preschool/kindergarten teachers.
Keep in mind that salary data is not included in every job posting, so the information compiled here is reflective of the data available through Lightcast.™
Annual Salary from Job Postings for Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers
Advertised Annual Salary
During a review of 2,637 job postings related to preschool/kindergarten teachers, advertised salary was included in 1,271 of them, which was 48%. Based on those postings, the median advertised salary for preschool/kindergarten teachers was $49,792 per year.
Hourly Salary from Job Postings for Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers
Advertised Hourly Salary
A similar analysis of job postings provides insight into advertised hourly salary for preschool/kindergarten teachers. Based on 30% of postings with advertised compensation, the median hourly salary for open positions for preschool/kindergarten teachers in the United States is about $24.
Salary Trend for Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers
If you're thinking about pursuing a career in the field, you may want to understand how compensation has changed over time for preschool/kindergarten teachers. The chart below provides a snapshot of advertised salaries over the past three years.
Based on compensation data that was included in job postings for preschool/kindergarten teachers dating back to September 2020, advertised salaries for preschool/kindergarten teachers have decreased 5%.
Advertised Wage Trend For Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers
What's the Job Growth for Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers?
Another data point that someone thinking about a career path should consider is whether or not jobs are expected to see growth in the future. The chart below looks at projected employment for preschool/kindergarten teachers over the next 10 years.
According to the data obtained through Lightcast,™ there were 28,957 jobs for preschool/kindergarten teachers in the United States in 2023. By 2033, it is expected that about 1,874 jobs will be added. That's a 6.5% increase over the next 10-year period.
Employment Projections For Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about preschool/kindergarten teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for preschool/kindergarten teachers.
What do preschool/kindergarten teachers do?
Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.