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Preschool and Kindergarten Teacher Salary in U.S.

The salary statistics of preschool and kindergarten teachers are shown in Table 1. The average hourly salary of preschool and kindergarten teachers in the United States is shown in Table 2. In the next few tables we compare the average salaries of preschool and kindergarten teachers within different industry sectors and in the 50 states of the United States. The preschool and kindergarten teachers annual salary statistics are from the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1. Preschool and Kindergarten Teacher Salary in U.S. (2022 survey)

Percentile BracketAverage Annual Salary
10th Percentile Wage
$26,690
25th Percentile Wage
$29,700
50th Percentile Wage
$37,000
75th Percentile Wage
$51,240
90th Percentile Wage
$72,880

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for preschool and kindergarten teachers. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) preschool and kindergarten teachers is $72,880. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $37,000. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent is $26,690. Take note that in the United States, the annual salary of the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is almost 173% higher than that of the bottom 10 percent.

Median salary trend (2012 to 2022)

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of preschool and kindergarten teachers from 2012 to 2022.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth10-Year Growth
2022
$37,000
0.78% 10.70%
2021
$36,710
-0.27% -
2020
$36,810
5.92% -
2019
$34,630
1.91% -
2018
$33,970
1.27% -
2017
$33,540
-1.40% -
2016
$34,010
-0.94% -
2015
$34,330
0.67% -
2014
$34,100
2.05% -
2013
$33,400
1.08% -
2012
$33,040
- -

Table 2. Preschool and Kindergarten Teacher Salary by Industry Sector (2022 survey)

The average salaries of preschool and kindergarten teachers in 13 major industry sectors are shown in Table 2. We note that the salaries vary considerably within different industry sectors. The highest paying industry sector for preschool and kindergarten teachers occupations is the educational services sector with an annual salary $57,670. The lowest paying sector is the real estate and rental and leasing sector (annual salary $23,920).

Industry Sector Median Annual Salary
Educational Services
$57,670
Federal, State, and Local Government
$39,750
Information
$38,340
Management of Companies and Enterprises
$37,760
Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)
$37,340
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
$36,960
Accommodation and Food Services
$36,540
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
$32,730
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
$32,090
Health Care and Social Assistance
$31,410
Manufacturing
$30,340
Transportation and Warehousing
$29,390
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
$23,920

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💰 Highest paying industries for preschool and kindergarten teachers.