Kindergarten teacher earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:

$52.29 per hour

$108,753 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:

$40.22 per hour

$83,661 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:

$30.05 per hour

$62,510 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:

$22.46 per hour

$46,706 per year

10th percentile

Starting level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:

$17.27 per hour

$35,930 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 Pennsylvania. On average, they make less than nurse educators but more than high school teachers.

Career Median Salary
Nurse educator salary $79K
School psychologist salary $84K
Distance learning coordinator salary $81K
Music teacher salary $67K
Physical education teacher salary $67K
Kindergarten teacher salary $63K
School counselor salary $61K
Elementary school teacher salary $57K
Health educator salary $54K
High school teacher salary $54K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)