294 metro areas
Kindergarten Teacher Salary by City (2026)
Kindergarten teachers earn the most in Modesto, CA, an average of $107,550 a year, against $69,370 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in El Centro, CA ($106,220 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $69,370BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $107,550Modesto, CA
- Best after cost of living
- $106,220El Centro, CA
- Metro areas
- 294With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for kindergarten teachers
Top 10 metro areas
- Modesto, CA$107,550
- Seattle, WA$101,370
- El Centro, CA$101,090
- Mount Vernon, WA$100,150
- Visalia, CA$99,130
- Merced, CA$98,880
- Santa Maria, CA$98,850
- Sacramento, CA$97,930
- Bridgeport, CT$95,540
- Bremerton, WA$94,850
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | $107,550 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $101,370 |
| El Centro, CA | $101,090 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $100,150 |
| Visalia, CA | $99,130 |
| Merced, CA | $98,880 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $98,850 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $97,930 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $95,540 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $94,850 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- El Centro, CA$101,090 nominal$106,220
- Modesto, CA$107,550 nominal$103,310
- Merced, CA$98,880 nominal$100,620
- Visalia, CA$99,130 nominal$99,300
- Mount Vernon, WA$100,150 nominal$97,760
- Kingston, NY$94,310 nominal$93,650
- Hanford, CA$94,650 nominal$93,150
- Sacramento, CA$97,930 nominal$91,810
- Kennewick, WA$91,720 nominal$91,650
- Seattle, WA$101,370 nominal$91,220
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | $106,220 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,310 |
| Merced, CA | $100,620 |
| Visalia, CA | $99,300 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $97,760 |
| Kingston, NY | $93,650 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $93,150 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $91,810 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $91,650 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $91,220 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Kindergarten Teacher salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto, CA | $107,550 | $72,150 | $124,990 | $103,310 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $101,370 | $74,370 | $114,670 | $91,220 |
| 3 | El Centro, CA | $101,090 | $65,460 | $118,650 | $106,220 |
| 4 | Mount Vernon, WA | $100,150 | $73,150 | $113,450 | $97,760 |
| 5 | Visalia, CA | $99,130 | $71,070 | $112,960 | $99,300 |
| 6 | Merced, CA | $98,880 | $69,180 | $113,500 | $100,620 |
| 7 | Santa Maria, CA | $98,850 | $72,340 | $111,920 | $90,860 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $97,930 | $69,330 | $112,020 | $91,810 |
| 9 | Bridgeport, CT | $95,540 | $70,190 | $108,030 | $89,400 |
| 10 | Bremerton, WA | $94,850 | $66,420 | $108,860 | $89,810 |
| 11 | Hanford, CA | $94,650 | $67,150 | $108,200 | $93,150 |
| 12 | Kingston, NY | $94,310 | $61,790 | $110,330 | $93,650 |
| 13 | Bellingham, WA | $94,260 | $72,080 | $105,190 | $91,220 |
| 14 | Vallejo, CA | $93,580 | $60,930 | $109,650 | $86,270 |
| 15 | San Jose, CA | $92,890 | $59,140 | $109,510 | $84,120 |
| 16 | Oxnard, CA | $92,620 | $60,860 | $108,270 | $83,790 |
| 17 | Olympia, WA | $92,070 | $70,830 | $102,530 | $88,810 |
| 18 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $92,000 | $59,950 | $107,780 | $84,080 |
| 19 | Kennewick, WA | $91,720 | $72,610 | $101,140 | $91,650 |
| 20 | Yuba City, CA | $91,580 | $60,730 | $106,780 | $87,860 |
| 21 | Napa, CA | $90,640 | $58,440 | $106,500 | $80,530 |
| 22 | Santa Rosa, CA | $88,910 | $62,000 | $102,160 | $82,490 |
| 23 | Hartford, CT | $87,860 | $66,300 | $98,480 | $85,510 |
| 24 | Spokane, WA | $87,830 | $64,800 | $99,170 | $87,530 |
| 25 | Walla Walla, WA | $87,690 | $65,030 | $98,850 | $89,010 |
| 26 | Los Angeles, CA | $87,400 | $53,350 | $104,180 | $76,960 |
| 27 | Barnstable Town, MA | $87,300 | $64,720 | $98,420 | $88,760 |
| 28 | New York, NY-NJ | $87,020 | $58,350 | $101,140 | $77,310 |
| 29 | Wenatchee, WA | $86,940 | $66,300 | $97,110 | $83,710 |
| 30 | Provo, UT | $86,540 | $51,530 | $103,780 | $88,100 |
| 31 | Yakima, WA | $85,850 | $61,010 | $98,090 | $89,850 |
| 32 | Riverside, CA | $85,810 | $66,540 | $95,310 | $80,620 |
| 33 | Longview, WA | $85,440 | $66,690 | $94,670 | $87,590 |
| 34 | Chico, CA | $84,880 | $60,590 | $96,850 | $83,880 |
| 35 | Worcester, MA | $84,870 | $61,310 | $96,470 | $82,780 |
| 36 | Boston, MA-NH | $84,850 | $58,650 | $97,760 | $78,370 |
| 37 | Boulder, CO | $83,720 | $61,260 | $94,780 | $79,580 |
| 38 | Norwich, CT | $83,640 | $64,530 | $93,060 | $83,270 |
| 39 | Bakersfield, CA | $83,620 | $59,140 | $95,680 | $82,890 |
| 40 | Waterbury, CT | $83,340 | $63,600 | $93,070 | $83,530 |
| 41 | Portland, OR-WA | $83,090 | $56,200 | $96,340 | $78,820 |
| 42 | New Haven, CT | $82,240 | $58,400 | $93,980 | $78,650 |
| 43 | San Francisco, CA | $82,090 | $54,180 | $95,840 | $71,000 |
| 44 | Redding, CA | $80,430 | $50,970 | $94,940 | $79,880 |
| 45 | Stockton, CA | $80,060 | $58,920 | $90,470 | $76,180 |
| 46 | Trenton, NJ | $79,700 | $59,590 | $89,600 | $77,240 |
| 47 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $79,490 | $49,960 | $94,040 | $73,200 |
| 48 | Providence, RI-MA | $79,340 | $51,480 | $93,060 | $77,960 |
| 49 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $78,900 | $57,100 | $89,630 | $72,460 |
| 50 | Cleveland, OH | $78,810 | $53,850 | $91,100 | $83,910 |
| 51 | Lexington Park, MD | $78,670 | $60,010 | $87,870 | $78,080 |
| 52 | Atlantic City, NJ | $78,400 | $59,550 | $87,680 | $79,310 |
| 53 | Baltimore, MD | $78,130 | $59,310 | $87,400 | $74,770 |
| 54 | York, PA | $77,520 | $59,530 | $86,390 | $80,750 |
| 55 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $77,180 | $50,820 | $90,160 | $73,630 |
| 56 | Columbus, OH | $77,080 | $56,440 | $87,240 | $80,740 |
| 57 | Buffalo, NY | $77,020 | $47,930 | $91,350 | $80,360 |
| 58 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $76,670 | $53,610 | $88,030 | $78,280 |
| 59 | Harrisburg, PA | $76,520 | $52,270 | $88,460 | $77,570 |
| 60 | Amherst Town, MA | $75,850 | $54,230 | $86,490 | $75,670 |
| 61 | Reading, PA | $75,040 | $56,410 | $84,220 | $77,310 |
| 62 | Scranton, PA | $75,020 | $55,400 | $84,680 | $80,190 |
| 63 | Pittsfield, MA | $74,960 | $55,940 | $84,330 | $78,820 |
| 64 | Vineland, NJ | $74,840 | $56,760 | $83,750 | $77,980 |
| 65 | Utica, NY | $74,720 | $54,870 | $84,500 | $80,620 |
| 66 | Springfield, MA | $74,700 | $56,350 | $83,740 | $77,760 |
| 67 | Lebanon, PA | $74,570 | $58,490 | $82,490 | $80,000 |
| 68 | Chicago, IL-IN | $74,470 | $51,710 | $85,680 | $71,890 |
| 69 | Albany, NY | $74,410 | $50,260 | $86,300 | $74,730 |
| 70 | Warner Robins, GA | $74,400 | $54,150 | $84,370 | $79,330 |
| 71 | Atlanta, GA | $74,180 | $56,400 | $82,940 | $74,140 |
| 72 | Syracuse, NY | $73,530 | $53,680 | $83,300 | $76,800 |
| 73 | Burlington, VT | $73,330 | $54,270 | $82,710 | $72,640 |
| 74 | Denver, CO | $73,220 | $54,830 | $82,280 | $69,220 |
| 75 | Salem, OR | $72,600 | $51,550 | $82,970 | $70,040 |
| 76 | Detroit, MI | $72,250 | $45,380 | $85,480 | $72,040 |
| 77 | San Diego, CA | $71,670 | $55,920 | $79,420 | $64,060 |
| 78 | Salisbury, MD | $71,660 | $48,940 | $82,840 | $74,940 |
| 79 | Naples, FL | $71,360 | $59,020 | $77,440 | $69,150 |
| 80 | Binghamton, NY | $71,070 | $55,110 | $78,930 | $76,530 |
| 81 | Jacksonville, FL | $70,730 | $53,820 | $79,060 | $71,100 |
| 82 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $70,640 | $50,000 | $80,800 | $68,880 |
| 83 | Springfield, IL | $70,520 | $52,780 | $79,260 | $76,040 |
| 84 | Rockford, IL | $70,480 | $47,840 | $81,640 | $76,480 |
| 85 | Glens Falls, NY | $70,350 | $53,780 | $78,510 | $74,160 |
| 86 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $70,140 | $54,400 | $77,890 | $70,160 |
| 87 | Las Cruces, NM | $69,960 | $53,140 | $78,250 | $77,550 |
| 88 | Fort Collins, CO | $69,500 | $54,550 | $76,860 | $68,720 |
| 89 | Boise City, ID | $69,460 | $54,280 | $76,940 | $70,600 |
| 90 | North Port, FL | $69,420 | $57,490 | $75,290 | $67,780 |
| 91 | Dayton, OH | $69,120 | $48,380 | $79,330 | $74,570 |
| 92 | Akron, OH | $69,110 | $43,400 | $81,770 | $74,020 |
| 93 | Albuquerque, NM | $69,060 | $52,990 | $76,970 | $72,280 |
| 94 | Traverse City, MI | $69,000 | $50,700 | $78,010 | $73,900 |
| 95 | Chambersburg, PA | $68,980 | $48,940 | $78,850 | $72,890 |
| 96 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $68,850 | $45,670 | $80,270 | $75,030 |
| 97 | Lancaster, PA | $68,680 | $46,240 | $79,720 | $69,900 |
| 98 | Reno, NV | $68,680 | $56,100 | $74,870 | $67,990 |
| 99 | Mankato, MN | $68,670 | $46,450 | $79,610 | $75,500 |
| 100 | Sebring, FL | $68,430 | $47,520 | $78,720 | $74,000 |
| 101 | Gainesville, FL | $68,170 | $52,880 | $75,700 | $70,470 |
| 102 | Medford, OR | $67,810 | $49,070 | $77,040 | $66,850 |
| 103 | Lincoln, NE | $67,790 | $58,750 | $72,240 | $74,020 |
| 104 | Duluth, MN-WI | $67,620 | $47,690 | $77,440 | $76,180 |
| 105 | Albany, OR | $67,580 | $49,900 | $76,290 | $66,190 |
| 106 | Bloomington, IL | $67,350 | $44,400 | $78,660 | $72,000 |
| 107 | Pittsburgh, PA | $67,320 | $46,670 | $77,480 | $71,110 |
| 108 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $67,290 | $49,050 | $76,270 | $72,300 |
| 109 | Toledo, OH | $67,140 | $46,210 | $77,440 | $73,410 |
| 110 | Bend, OR | $67,040 | $48,550 | $76,140 | $64,710 |
| 111 | Elmira, NY | $66,910 | $48,380 | $76,030 | $70,880 |
| 112 | Appleton, WI | $66,780 | $45,140 | $77,440 | $72,260 |
| 113 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $66,640 | $55,140 | $72,310 | $70,760 |
| 114 | Gainesville, GA | $66,560 | $51,750 | $73,860 | $68,780 |
| 115 | Valdosta, GA | $66,550 | $40,490 | $79,390 | $75,390 |
| 116 | St. Cloud, MN | $66,520 | $50,890 | $74,220 | $75,910 |
| 117 | McAllen, TX | $66,210 | $55,180 | $71,650 | $77,080 |
| 118 | Las Vegas, NV | $66,050 | $53,950 | $72,020 | $65,910 |
| 119 | Eugene, OR | $65,990 | $50,760 | $73,490 | $64,970 |
| 120 | Racine, WI | $65,940 | $47,420 | $75,060 | $68,720 |
| 121 | Rochester, NY | $65,890 | $49,070 | $74,180 | $67,900 |
| 122 | Manchester, NH | $65,650 | $49,130 | $73,790 | $62,140 |
| 123 | Johnstown, PA | $65,560 | $48,430 | $73,990 | $76,300 |
| 124 | Portland, ME | $65,420 | $49,160 | $73,420 | $64,230 |
| 125 | Erie, PA | $65,350 | $51,470 | $72,180 | $71,850 |
| 126 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $65,140 | $49,580 | $72,800 | $68,500 |
| 127 | Flint, MI | $65,130 | $43,500 | $75,780 | $70,010 |
| 128 | Davenport, IA-IL | $65,110 | $46,560 | $74,240 | $73,090 |
| 129 | Minot, ND | $65,100 | $48,770 | $73,150 | $74,800 |
| 130 | Rochester, MN | $64,940 | $47,920 | $73,330 | $71,500 |
| 131 | Pueblo, CO | $64,690 | $52,160 | $70,860 | $70,500 |
| 132 | Hinesville, GA | $64,550 | $50,830 | $71,300 | $68,720 |
| 133 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $64,530 | $50,710 | $71,340 | $65,840 |
| 134 | Macon, GA | $64,500 | $48,740 | $72,270 | $72,860 |
| 135 | Omaha, NE-IA | $64,330 | $49,880 | $71,440 | $69,990 |
| 136 | Battle Creek, MI | $64,320 | $44,690 | $73,980 | $71,040 |
| 137 | Lexington, KY | $64,310 | $48,900 | $71,900 | $69,230 |
| 138 | Augusta, GA-SC | $64,180 | $50,080 | $71,120 | $69,830 |
| 139 | Dalton, GA | $64,180 | $49,360 | $71,490 | $71,430 |
| 140 | Houston, TX | $64,180 | $54,930 | $68,740 | $65,070 |
| 141 | Ogden, UT | $64,180 | $50,190 | $71,070 | $63,960 |
| 142 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $64,170 | $53,570 | $69,400 | $65,280 |
| 143 | Grand Rapids, MI | $64,100 | $43,170 | $74,400 | $67,090 |
| 144 | Watertown, NY | $63,800 | $49,600 | $70,790 | $72,760 |
| 145 | Bismarck, ND | $63,770 | $54,700 | $68,240 | $70,060 |
| 146 | Savannah, GA | $63,680 | $51,120 | $69,870 | $66,890 |
| 147 | Weirton, WV-OH | $63,640 | $47,420 | $71,620 | $71,490 |
| 148 | Green Bay, WI | $63,510 | $50,980 | $69,690 | $68,230 |
| 149 | Rome, GA | $63,110 | $49,310 | $69,900 | $70,000 |
| 150 | Springfield, OH | $63,060 | $42,440 | $73,220 | $69,690 |
| 151 | Canton, OH | $62,790 | $41,580 | $73,230 | $70,230 |
| 152 | Cheyenne, WY | $62,780 | $54,530 | $66,850 | $65,060 |
| 153 | Grand Island, NE | $62,400 | $45,030 | $70,950 | $72,010 |
| 154 | Greeley, CO | $62,290 | $49,810 | $68,430 | $62,180 |
| 155 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $62,270 | $47,030 | $69,780 | $70,500 |
| 156 | Nashville, TN | $62,210 | $46,600 | $69,900 | $64,570 |
| 157 | Kalamazoo, MI | $62,100 | $39,760 | $73,100 | $65,480 |
| 158 | Lansing, MI | $62,100 | $41,920 | $72,040 | $65,370 |
| 159 | Arecibo, PR | $61,980 | $51,280 | $67,250 | N/A |
| 160 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $61,930 | $47,130 | $69,220 | $69,610 |
| 161 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $61,930 | $44,840 | $70,340 | $64,940 |
| 162 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $61,930 | $47,120 | $69,230 | $71,460 |
| 163 | El Paso, TX | $61,880 | $52,870 | $66,310 | $68,820 |
| 164 | Columbus, GA-AL | $61,830 | $44,900 | $70,180 | $69,240 |
| 165 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $61,830 | $49,270 | $68,010 | $71,990 |
| 166 | Fayetteville, AR | $61,820 | $49,480 | $67,890 | $67,670 |
| 167 | Dallas, TX | $61,800 | $49,390 | $67,920 | $59,950 |
| 168 | Ann Arbor, MI | $61,760 | $40,040 | $72,450 | $61,220 |
| 169 | Grand Junction, CO | $61,730 | $49,020 | $68,000 | $64,650 |
| 170 | Idaho Falls, ID | $61,630 | $50,550 | $67,080 | $65,280 |
| 171 | Richmond, VA | $61,570 | $53,750 | $65,430 | $62,920 |
| 172 | Champaign, IL | $61,500 | $43,870 | $70,180 | $66,340 |
| 173 | Aguadilla, PR | $61,350 | $50,690 | $66,600 | N/A |
| 174 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $61,300 | $48,210 | $67,740 | $66,240 |
| 175 | Orlando, FL | $61,290 | $50,530 | $66,590 | $60,430 |
| 176 | Owensboro, KY | $61,190 | $49,040 | $67,180 | $69,060 |
| 177 | Sheboygan, WI | $61,140 | $39,600 | $71,760 | $65,030 |
| 178 | Wausau, WI | $61,030 | $43,330 | $69,750 | $65,870 |
| 179 | Decatur, IL | $60,910 | $45,200 | $68,640 | $68,890 |
| 180 | Cleveland, TN | $60,870 | $52,500 | $64,990 | $69,110 |
| 181 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $60,730 | $44,420 | $68,760 | $62,380 |
| 182 | Paducah, KY-IL | $60,730 | $47,680 | $67,150 | $70,550 |
| 183 | Roanoke, VA | $60,570 | $44,200 | $68,630 | $64,700 |
| 184 | Salt Lake City, UT | $60,560 | $40,830 | $70,280 | $60,040 |
| 185 | San Juan, PR | $60,550 | $49,230 | $66,120 | N/A |
| 186 | Killeen, TX | $60,370 | $55,020 | $63,000 | $66,240 |
| 187 | Guayama, PR | $60,300 | $50,130 | $65,310 | N/A |
| 188 | Johnson City, TN | $60,230 | $48,270 | $66,120 | $68,500 |
| 189 | Madison, WI | $60,100 | $45,370 | $67,350 | $61,780 |
| 190 | Fort Wayne, IN | $59,980 | $48,600 | $65,590 | $64,790 |
| 191 | Waterloo, IA | $59,940 | $47,700 | $65,960 | $68,850 |
| 192 | Charleston, SC | $59,830 | $46,220 | $66,540 | $59,260 |
| 193 | Eau Claire, WI | $59,810 | $45,160 | $67,030 | $64,450 |
| 194 | Youngstown, OH | $59,800 | $41,270 | $68,920 | $68,430 |
| 195 | Deltona, FL | $59,730 | $49,810 | $64,610 | $60,110 |
| 196 | Evansville, IN | $59,710 | $45,000 | $66,950 | $65,240 |
| 197 | Milwaukee, WI | $59,480 | $42,890 | $67,660 | $61,360 |
| 198 | Des Moines, IA | $59,300 | $47,310 | $65,220 | $64,670 |
| 199 | Columbia, SC | $59,120 | $45,780 | $65,690 | $63,120 |
| 200 | Peoria, IL | $59,100 | $40,880 | $68,070 | $64,780 |
| 201 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $59,070 | $47,460 | $64,780 | $64,580 |
| 202 | Phoenix, AZ | $59,050 | $47,170 | $64,890 | $57,150 |
| 203 | Bowling Green, KY | $59,000 | $48,730 | $64,060 | $65,430 |
| 204 | Spartanburg, SC | $58,960 | $48,100 | $64,310 | $64,750 |
| 205 | Crestview, FL | $58,870 | $50,130 | $63,180 | $60,670 |
| 206 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $58,710 | $47,360 | $64,310 | $52,910 |
| 207 | Tampa, FL | $58,490 | $49,810 | $62,760 | $57,970 |
| 208 | Baton Rouge, LA | $58,480 | $46,490 | $64,390 | $64,420 |
| 209 | Ponce, PR | $58,480 | $45,140 | $65,060 | N/A |
| 210 | Lewiston, ME | $58,460 | $45,420 | $64,880 | $61,710 |
| 211 | Wichita, KS | $58,370 | $49,520 | $62,730 | $65,620 |
| 212 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $58,280 | $44,760 | $64,930 | $67,410 |
| 213 | Colorado Springs, CO | $58,250 | $46,290 | $64,140 | $57,840 |
| 214 | Indianapolis, IN | $58,240 | $46,740 | $63,900 | $60,860 |
| 215 | Greenville, SC | $57,970 | $46,360 | $63,690 | $62,160 |
| 216 | Knoxville, TN | $57,890 | $48,890 | $62,330 | $62,540 |
| 217 | Janesville, WI | $57,730 | $41,000 | $65,960 | $61,610 |
| 218 | Cape Coral, FL | $57,480 | $51,970 | $60,200 | $56,160 |
| 219 | Kankakee, IL | $57,350 | $44,420 | $63,710 | $59,500 |
| 220 | Austin, TX | $57,240 | $44,530 | $63,500 | $58,370 |
| 221 | San Antonio, TX | $57,200 | $44,690 | $63,370 | $60,390 |
| 222 | Slidell, LA | $57,160 | $50,570 | $60,410 | $61,640 |
| 223 | Miami, FL | $57,130 | $48,190 | $61,530 | $50,050 |
| 224 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $57,030 | $46,400 | $62,260 | $65,970 |
| 225 | Fargo, ND-MN | $56,960 | $45,100 | $62,810 | $62,680 |
| 226 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $56,850 | $46,470 | $61,970 | $64,290 |
| 227 | Dubuque, IA | $56,820 | $46,300 | $62,000 | $65,070 |
| 228 | Asheville, NC | $56,760 | $47,110 | $61,510 | $58,810 |
| 229 | Oklahoma City, OK | $56,720 | $46,160 | $61,910 | $62,740 |
| 230 | Corpus Christi, TX | $56,690 | $46,050 | $61,930 | $61,170 |
| 231 | Rapid City, SD | $56,640 | $47,230 | $61,270 | $63,530 |
| 232 | Harrisonburg, VA | $56,220 | $46,180 | $61,160 | $59,250 |
| 233 | Tallahassee, FL | $56,180 | $47,470 | $60,470 | $59,820 |
| 234 | Topeka, KS | $56,100 | $48,360 | $59,920 | $63,160 |
| 235 | Blacksburg, VA | $55,920 | $46,310 | $60,660 | $60,320 |
| 236 | Michigan City, IN | $55,700 | $44,590 | $61,170 | $60,750 |
| 237 | Terre Haute, IN | $55,690 | $44,400 | $61,260 | $63,430 |
| 238 | Jackson, TN | $55,600 | $47,990 | $59,360 | $65,010 |
| 239 | Raleigh, NC | $55,600 | $45,250 | $60,690 | $56,640 |
| 240 | Muskegon, MI | $55,520 | $40,230 | $63,050 | $60,010 |
| 241 | Hot Springs, AR | $55,330 | $51,170 | $57,380 | $64,540 |
| 242 | Lafayette, IN | $55,270 | $45,250 | $60,200 | $59,160 |
| 243 | Athens, GA | $55,080 | $35,920 | $64,520 | $59,010 |
| 244 | Missoula, MT | $55,080 | $41,020 | $62,010 | $57,110 |
| 245 | New Orleans, LA | $55,080 | $38,380 | $63,300 | $59,480 |
| 246 | South Bend, IN-MI | $54,930 | $46,500 | $59,080 | $59,150 |
| 247 | Flagstaff, AZ | $54,920 | $46,260 | $59,180 | $54,740 |
| 248 | Iowa City, IA | $54,790 | $44,840 | $59,690 | $59,870 |
| 249 | Elkhart, IN | $54,740 | $48,390 | $57,860 | $60,600 |
| 250 | Jonesboro, AR | $54,560 | $48,270 | $57,660 | $63,530 |
| 251 | Shreveport, LA | $54,490 | $45,100 | $59,120 | $64,280 |
| 252 | Mayaguez, PR | $54,470 | $39,450 | $61,870 | N/A |
| 253 | Beaumont, TX | $54,340 | $44,340 | $59,270 | $60,350 |
| 254 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $54,280 | $42,990 | $59,850 | $58,890 |
| 255 | Lawrence, KS | $53,910 | $44,350 | $58,610 | $59,740 |
| 256 | Panama City, FL | $53,770 | $49,940 | $55,660 | $55,260 |
| 257 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $53,710 | $47,160 | $56,940 | $53,590 |
| 258 | Little Rock, AR | $53,650 | $46,040 | $57,390 | $60,040 |
| 259 | Palm Bay, FL | $53,550 | $50,550 | $55,030 | $53,550 |
| 260 | Durham, NC | $53,190 | $43,540 | $57,930 | $54,510 |
| 261 | Pensacola, FL | $53,100 | $47,820 | $55,700 | $54,340 |
| 262 | Hickory, NC | $53,010 | $47,210 | $55,870 | $59,910 |
| 263 | Joplin, MO-KS | $53,010 | $43,020 | $57,930 | $61,840 |
| 264 | Lakeland, FL | $52,840 | $49,290 | $54,590 | $54,400 |
| 265 | Springfield, MO | $52,790 | $41,770 | $58,220 | $59,590 |
| 266 | Manhattan, KS | $52,740 | $47,290 | $55,430 | $58,490 |
| 267 | Winston, NC | $52,720 | $42,930 | $57,550 | $57,280 |
| 268 | Burlington, NC | $52,650 | $43,370 | $57,210 | $56,490 |
| 269 | Tyler, TX | $52,620 | $41,960 | $57,870 | $57,100 |
| 270 | Greensboro, NC | $52,590 | $44,070 | $56,790 | $56,630 |
| 271 | Monroe, LA | $52,490 | $46,670 | $55,360 | $62,790 |
| 272 | Bangor, ME | $52,350 | $44,120 | $56,400 | $54,240 |
| 273 | Gulfport, MS | $52,300 | $46,350 | $55,230 | $58,110 |
| 274 | Lake Charles, LA | $52,300 | $47,430 | $54,700 | $60,920 |
| 275 | Yuma, AZ | $52,300 | $44,580 | $56,100 | $56,410 |
| 276 | Tucson, AZ | $52,040 | $41,720 | $57,120 | $53,710 |
| 277 | Columbia, MO | $51,720 | $41,850 | $56,580 | $57,830 |
| 278 | Jefferson City, MO | $51,440 | $42,190 | $56,000 | $58,470 |
| 279 | Pinehurst, NC | $51,300 | $41,090 | $56,330 | $58,070 |
| 280 | Greenville, NC | $51,070 | $37,930 | $57,540 | $57,770 |
| 281 | Brownsville, TX | $50,800 | $37,370 | $57,420 | $59,090 |
| 282 | Tulsa, OK | $50,620 | $45,180 | $53,300 | $56,740 |
| 283 | Jackson, MS | $50,330 | $41,530 | $54,660 | $56,520 |
| 284 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $50,310 | $37,430 | $56,650 | $55,320 |
| 285 | Fayetteville, NC | $50,110 | $38,320 | $55,910 | $54,480 |
| 286 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $49,880 | $45,350 | $52,110 | $55,040 |
| 287 | Hammond, LA | $49,450 | $46,750 | $50,780 | $58,550 |
| 288 | Great Falls, MT | $49,210 | $38,840 | $54,310 | $50,810 |
| 289 | Waco, TX | $49,150 | $38,740 | $54,280 | $53,110 |
| 290 | Lawton, OK | $48,670 | $43,510 | $51,210 | $56,630 |
| 291 | Lynchburg, VA | $48,570 | $37,650 | $53,950 | $54,350 |
| 292 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $47,800 | $40,610 | $51,340 | $50,800 |
| 293 | Hattiesburg, MS | $47,560 | $42,890 | $49,850 | $54,270 |
| 294 | Enid, OK | $46,040 | $39,420 | $49,290 | $54,630 |
More
More on kindergarten teachers
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Kindergarten Teacher salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays kindergarten teachers the most?
Modesto, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $107,550 a year, followed by Seattle, WA ($101,370), El Centro, CA ($101,090), Mount Vernon, WA ($100,150). The national mean is $69,370 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do kindergarten teachers earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in El Centro, CA ($106,220 at national prices, $101,090 nominal), Modesto, CA ($103,310 at national prices, $107,550 nominal), Merced, CA ($100,620 at national prices, $98,880 nominal).
How much do kindergarten teachers make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $87,020; Los Angeles, CA: $87,400; Chicago, IL-IN: $74,470; Dallas, TX: $61,800; Houston, TX: $64,180 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do kindergarten teachers earn the least?
Of the 294 metro areas with their own estimate, Enid, OK has the lowest mean wage, $46,040. At local prices that is worth $54,630.