Salary Outlook
Instructing very young children isn’t as lucrative as teaching preteens and teenagers. A preschool teacher made an average salary of $26,620 in 2011. Top salaries eclipsed $45,000 a year, while the worst salaries were south of $20,000. Smaller cities tend to pay their preschool teachers better. Case in point: McAllen, Texas, with a population of 129,877, according to the last U.S. Census, pays its teachers approximately $50,390.
| Job Salary | Year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | $31,500.00 |
| 2004 | $36,420.00 |
| 2006 | $38,000.00 |
| 2008 | $37,410.00 |
| 2010 | $41,400.00 |
Average Preschool Teacher Pay vs. All Social Services Jobs
Most teachers would say they didn’t pick their profession for the money. Still, if finances are of great concern for you, keep in mind that elementary school teachers and middle school teachers make at least $25,000 more in a year than a preschool teacher. Salaries for this profession are more on par with the paychecks of sports coaches and recreation and fitness workers.
| Job Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Middle School Teacher | $53,130.00 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $52,840.00 |
| Recreation & Fitness Worker | $31,030.00 |
| Sports Coach | $28,470.00 |
| Preschool Teacher | $26,620.00 |
See Complete List of Best Social Services Jobs
Best Paying Cities for Preschool Teachers
The highest paid in the preschool teacher profession work in the metropolitan areas of McAllen, TX, Spartanburg, SC, and Rome, GA. The Flint, MI area also pays well, as does the city of New York City, NY.
McAllen, TX
Average Salary: $50,390 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a preschool teacher working in McAllen, TX is $50,390, which is $23,770 more than the average pay in the profession.
Spartanburg, SC
Average Salary: $49,790 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a preschool teacher working in Spartanburg, SC is $49,790, which is $23,170 more than the average pay in the profession.
Rome, GA
Average Salary: $47,920 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a preschool teacher working in Rome, GA is $47,920, which is $21,300 more than the average pay in the profession.
Flint, MI
Average Salary: $47,810 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a preschool teacher working in Flint, MI is $47,810, which is $21,190 more than the average pay in the profession.
New York City, NY
Average Salary: $45,890 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a preschool teacher working in New York City, NY is $45,890, which is $19,270 more than the average pay in the profession.
