How much does a kindergarten teacher make?
The median kindergarten teacher in the United States earns $62,680 per year. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all kindergarten teachers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 25-2012.
Kindergarten teacher salary range
Pay for kindergarten teachers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $46,990 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $101,830. The average (mean) wage of $69,370 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,990 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $52,180 | |
| Median (50th) | $62,680 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $79,910 | |
| 90th percentile | $101,830 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for kindergarten teachers, except special education (SOC 25-2012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Kindergarten teacher salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Kindergarten teachers earn the most in Washington at $99,960 a year, and the least in Montana at $47,590. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
State median wages for kindergarten teachers, except special education (SOC 25-2012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for kindergarten teachers
The BLS projects employment of kindergarten teachers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 0.3%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 111,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 110,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 11,900 openings a year for kindergarten teachers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a kindergarten teacher
The typical entry-level education for kindergarten teachers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a kindergarten teacher earns
District budget, level taught, degree, and region drive pay, along with years of service on a step-and-lane salary schedule. High cost metros and senior educators land near the top.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $99,960) and the lowest (Montana, $47,590) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 108,870 people work as kindergarten teachers in the United States. At $62,680 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Kindergarten teacher salary FAQ
How much does a kindergarten teacher make an hour?
Kindergarten teachers are generally salaried rather than paid by the hour, so the BLS does not publish an hourly wage for this job. The median annual salary is $62,680.
What is the highest kindergarten teacher salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of kindergarten teachers earn more than $101,830 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a kindergarten teacher make a year?
The median annual salary for a kindergarten teacher is $62,680. The average (mean) wage of $69,370 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a kindergarten teacher a well paid job?
At $62,680 a year, a kindergarten teacher earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 108,870 people work as kindergarten teachers in the United States.
Which state pays kindergarten teachers the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for kindergarten teachers at $99,960 a year. Connecticut ($90,030) and Rhode Island ($85,470) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a kindergarten teacher a good career?
Employment of kindergarten teachers is projected to shrink 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 11,900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a kindergarten teacher?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for kindergarten teachers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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