The average salary for a kindergarten teacher in the United States is around $56,850 per year.
Avg Salary
Kindergarten teachers earn an average yearly salary of $56,850.
Wages typically start from $37,420 and go up to $86,369.
9% below national average Updated in 2019
Kindergarten teacher earnings by seniority
Top-level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:
$41.52 per hour
$86,369 per year
Senior-level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:
$34.06 per hour
$70,847 per year
Mid-level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:
$27.33 per hour
$56,850 per year
Junior-level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:
$21.93 per hour
$45,618 per year
Starting level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:
$17.99 per hour
$37,420 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Kindergarten teacher salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $77,420 |
| New York | $73,430 |
| Massachusetts | $72,990 |
| Oregon | $71,500 |
| Rhode Island | $68,750 |
| California | $67,670 |
| Maryland | $64,460 |
| New Jersey | $63,640 |
| Washington | $63,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,510 |
| Alaska | $62,140 |
| Virginia | $60,540 |
| Michigan | $58,930 |
| Ohio | $58,500 |
| Minnesota | $58,140 |
| Nebraska | $57,820 |
| Wyoming | $57,510 |
| New Hampshire | $57,080 |
| Delaware | $57,000 |
| Wisconsin | $56,170 |
| Texas | $55,930 |
| Vermont | $55,780 |
| Nevada | $55,730 |
| Illinois | $54,856 |
| Kentucky | $54,630 |
| District of Columbia | $54,510 |
| Iowa | $53,750 |
| Georgia | $53,730 |
| Maine | $53,270 |
| Montana | $53,090 |
| New Mexico | $51,490 |
| South Carolina | $51,480 |
| Kansas | $51,230 |
| North Dakota | $50,150 |
| Idaho | $50,120 |
| Louisiana | $49,890 |
| Florida | $49,680 |
| Indiana | $48,470 |
| Tennessee | $48,410 |
| Colorado | $47,750 |
| Guam | $47,680 |
| Missouri | $47,180 |
| Utah | $46,990 |
| West Virginia | $46,730 |
| Arkansas | $45,870 |
| North Carolina | $45,810 |
| Alabama | $44,620 |
| Arizona | $43,520 |
| Mississippi | $42,640 |
| South Dakota | $41,470 |
| Oklahoma | $38,190 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,670 |
| Hawaii | $30,580 |
How much does a Kindergarten Teacher earn?
Where one works has an impact on a kindergarten teacher’s starting salary. Salaries can vary from district to district and from state to state. Urban areas tend to offer higher kindergarten teacher salaries, but the cost of living is also higher. While a kindergarten teacher may earn less in a rural area, they'll probably spend less for rent, food, gas, and other expenses.
Kindergarten teachers at public primary schools generally fare better with their salary than those teaching at private schools. As well, possessing an advanced degree can lead to a higher starting salary. According to Huffington Post, school districts in the United States pay more than $8.6 billion per year in bonuses for teachers with a master’s degree (bonuses range from $1,423 to $10,777).
How do kindergarten teacher salaries compare to similar careers?
Kindergarten teachers earn 8% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than nurse educators but more than clergies.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse educator salary | $75K |
| Professor salary | $65K |
| Physical education teacher salary | $63K |
| Music teacher salary | $59K |
| High school teacher salary | $59K |
| Kindergarten teacher salary | $57K |
| School counselor salary | $55K |
| Elementary school teacher salary | $55K |
| Health educator salary | $53K |
| Clergy salary | $51K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)