The short version. Preschool teacher pay in the United States runs from about $27,320 to $60,970 with a national median of $37,130 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024). Public elementary and secondary schools (including public pre-K programs) pay materially more than private day-care centers and church-based preschools. Top-paying states are D.C., Louisiana, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The four levers that move an offer are setting (public school pre-K >> private child-care), credential (bachelor's > associate > CDA), state (public pre-K expansion states pay more), and district (union districts pay more). Analyze your offer.
The national picture
Preschool Teachers (Except Special Education) earn a national median of $37,130, with the 10th percentile at $27,320 (typical for a private day-care assistant lead) and the 90th percentile at $60,970 (typical for a public pre-K teacher with a bachelor's and 10+ years of experience). Median hourly is $17.85.
The occupation covers everyone from a full-time private child-care center lead teacher, to a Head Start teacher, to a public school district's pre-K teacher on the K-12 salary scale. That range is enormous - and the sector you work in is the single biggest determinant of the number.
Highest-paying states and metros
The five highest-paying states, per BLS OES annual mean wages (May 2024), are the District of Columbia, Louisiana, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York - each with annual mean wages above $47,000. States with universal or near-universal public pre-K (D.C., Oklahoma, Georgia, West Virginia) show meaningful pay bumps because a larger share of teachers work on public-school scales.
| State | Annual mean (approx) |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $55,910 |
| Louisiana | $52,570 |
| Connecticut | $50,780 |
| New Jersey | $50,410 |
| New York | $49,910 |
Lowest-paying states cluster in the Mountain West and Deep South (Idaho, South Dakota, West Virginia in some sectors), with means below $35K.
Public school vs private day-care vs Head Start
| Setting | Annual mean (approx) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary & secondary schools (public pre-K) | $54,500 | On K-12 teacher salary scale in most districts. Requires bachelor's + state teaching license. |
| Individual & family services (Head Start) | $39,540 | Head Start programs; federal-funded. Increasingly require associate's or bachelor's. |
| Religious organizations (church preschools) | $36,880 | Often smaller programs; benefits vary widely. |
| Child day-care services | $34,900 | Private centers (KinderCare, Bright Horizons, independent). Largest employer. |
Move-worthy differentials: moving from a private child-care center lead teacher role to a public school pre-K role, with the same credentials, is typically a 30-50% pay increase, plus a pension, plus better benefits, plus the summer schedule. For most preschool teachers with the credential to make the move, the public school route is the biggest financial lever available.
Credential impact - CDA to bachelor's
| Credential | Typical role | Typical pay |
|---|---|---|
| None / HS diploma | Assistant teacher, aide | $25K - $32K |
| CDA (Child Development Associate) | Private center lead teacher | $30K - $42K |
| Associate's in ECE | Head Start, higher-tier private centers | $35K - $48K |
| Bachelor's in ECE + state license | Public school pre-K, top private preschools | $45K - $70K |
| Master's in ECE + license | Public school with steps, coordinator, lead teacher | $55K - $85K |
The bachelor's degree with state licensure is the biggest step because it unlocks the public school teacher salary scale. In many states, this can add $15K-$25K to base pay overnight.
Benefits and the true value of an offer
Never read a preschool teacher offer on base alone. Public school teachers typically get: a pension worth an employer contribution of 15-25% of salary (that is real money), health insurance with much lower employee cost share, a 10-month contract paying an annual salary, sick and personal days, and structured summer and school-year breaks. Private day-care teachers typically get: partial or no employer-paid health, no pension, 1-2 weeks of PTO, and year-round work.
The four levers that move an offer
- Setting. Public school pre-K >> Head Start > private day care. Setting alone can be a 30-50% swing.
- Credential. Bachelor's + state license > associate's > CDA. The bachelor's unlocks the public school scale.
- State. States with universal public pre-K (D.C., NY, NJ, GA, OK) pay more; deep-red-state private-center pay is at the low end.
- District & union. Union districts and higher-pay districts (Fairfax, Montgomery MD, Westchester NY) have higher steps and better benefits.
How to negotiate
Public school steps are usually fixed by district salary schedule - you cannot negotiate the number, but you can negotiate placement on the schedule (credit for prior years and prior credentials). Private centers have more room: they will often negotiate on shift assignment, PTO, professional-development budget, and a signing bonus. Head Start is somewhere in between - grant-funded, with rules on pay but flexibility on stipends and step credit.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the national median salary for a preschool teacher?
Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024, latest OES release), the national annual median wage for preschool teachers, except special education (SOC 25-2011), is $37,130, with a 10th percentile of $27,320 and a 90th percentile of $60,970. That number heavily reflects the private day-care sector, which is the largest employer in this SOC and pays materially less than public pre-K.
Do public pre-K teachers make more than private day-care teachers?
Yes, dramatically. The BLS industry table shows elementary and secondary schools (which includes public pre-K programs) paying an annual mean around $54,500, while child day-care services pay closer to $34,900. In states that have expanded public pre-K meaningfully - Oklahoma, Georgia, D.C., New York, New Jersey, and West Virginia - a public pre-K teacher earns on a K-12 teacher scale and can clear $55K-$75K with a bachelor's and licensure.
What are the top-paying states for preschool teachers?
The District of Columbia, Louisiana, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York top the list, each with annual mean wages above $47K. New York and D.C. metros can clear $60K annual mean. The lowest-paying states cluster in the South and Plains, with means near or below the national median.
Does a bachelor's degree pay more than a CDA?
Yes, sharply, and mostly through setting access. A Child Development Associate (CDA) qualifies you for most private day-care lead-teacher roles and pays near the median. A bachelor's degree in early childhood education (plus state licensure) opens public pre-K roles that pay 40-70% more. The credential itself is a step; the setting it unlocks is the bigger step.
What do benefits add?
Meaningfully at public schools. Public school teachers typically receive a pension (defined-benefit plan) worth 15-25% of base in employer contribution, health insurance with low employee cost share, and 10-12 weeks of scheduled non-teaching time in summer and school breaks. Private day-care benefits are much thinner - health may be partial or unavailable, no pension, and only 1-2 weeks of PTO.
How much does the summer schedule affect pay?
Public school preschool teachers are usually paid on a 10-month contract with the option to stretch it to 12 months. Private day-care runs year-round with 1-2 weeks vacation. Compare hourly, not annual, to get a real read: a public pre-K teacher at $50K on a 10-month contract has a higher hourly rate than a private center teacher at $40K working 50 weeks a year.