Education & Library

Preschool Teachers

SOC 25-2011

Teach and nurture children ages 3-5 through play-based learning.

The job

Median pay

$38k

$35k to $48k typical range

Outlook, 2025 to 2035

Growing fast

+4.5% projected

Openings a year

67k

BLS projection

Typical education

Associate's plus cert

Our model

AI displacement risk

Moderate

How much of this job AI may do instead of the person

Works with AI

22/100

AI alongside the person rather than instead of them

AI exposure

50th pct

More exposed than 50% of occupations · modeled estimate · 55th pct in Microsoft's data

Future-proof

53/100

Take the next step

Weigh it against Kindergarten TeachersPay, outlook, entry and AI exposure side by side See where it pays mostWashington DC leads at $62k; every state is below Find careers like itOpen the map at Preschool Teachers and explore its neighbours See open jobsPreschool Teachers roles hiring now Learn the skillsCourses for Preschool Teachers, who lean most on speaking Real pay & reviewsWhat Preschool Teachers say they actually earn

Key skills

Speaking
Active Listening
Learning Strategies
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Monitoring

Pay and jobs by state

BLS OEWS May 2025, 51 states. Sorted by jobs; per 1,000 is jobs per thousand workers in the state; vs national compares that rate with the country's.

State	Jobs	Per 1,000	vs national	Median pay
California	55,700	3.1	1.0×	$47k
Texas	41,200	2.9	0.9×	$34k
Florida	35,740	3.6	1.2×	$36k
New York	23,870	2.5	0.8×	$47k
Pennsylvania	22,760	3.8	1.2×	$36k
Illinois	22,420	3.7	1.2×	$41k
Ohio	19,840	3.6	1.2×	$35k
Massachusetts	18,710	5.1	1.7×	$46k
North Carolina	18,370	3.7	1.2×	$36k
Georgia	16,850	3.4	1.1×	$44k

All 51 states

State	Jobs	Per 1,000	vs national	Median pay
New Jersey	16,190	3.8	1.2×	$48k
Virginia	13,570	3.3	1.1×	$37k
Washington	13,210	3.7	1.2×	$46k
Wisconsin	11,330	3.9	1.3×	$36k
Michigan	10,950	2.5	0.8×	$37k
Minnesota	10,320	3.5	1.1×	$43k
Arizona	9,400	2.9	0.9×	$36k
Kentucky	8,520	4.3	1.4×	$30k
Maryland	8,020	2.9	0.9×	$45k
Alabama	7,910	3.7	1.2×	$28k
Indiana	7,110	2.2	0.7×	$37k
Oklahoma	7,010	4.1	1.3×	$32k
Oregon	6,300	3.2	1.0×	$45k
Iowa	5,910	3.8	1.2×	$34k
Missouri	5,580	1.9	0.6×	$36k
Tennessee	5,420	1.7	0.5×	$34k
Connecticut	5,230	3.1	1.0×	$46k
Colorado	5,210	1.8	0.6×	$46k
South Carolina	4,550	2.0	0.6×	$35k
Utah	3,670	2.1	0.7×	$35k
Mississippi	3,600	3.1	1.0×	$36k
Louisiana	3,570	1.8	0.6×	$38k
Arkansas	3,270	2.5	0.8×	$34k
New Mexico	2,490	2.9	0.9×	$44k
Nevada	2,360	1.5	0.5×	$39k
Washington DC	2,350	3.3	1.1×	$62k
New Hampshire	2,220	3.2	1.1×	$39k
West Virginia	2,190	3.1	1.0×	$32k
Delaware	2,000	4.1	1.3×	$36k
Rhode Island	1,890	3.8	1.2×	$37k
Nebraska	1,630	1.6	0.5×	$47k
South Dakota	1,470	3.2	1.0×	$45k
Hawaii	1,410	2.2	0.7×	$49k
Kansas	1,330	0.9	0.3×	$48k
Maine	1,110	1.7	0.6×	$44k
Wyoming	1,040	3.7	1.2×	$30k
Idaho	1,010	1.2	0.4×	$33k
Montana	960	1.9	0.6×	$37k
Vermont	940	3.1	1.0×	$50k
North Dakota	540	1.3	0.4×	$40k
Alaska	520	1.6	0.5×	$46k

Top metro areas

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ28,140 jobs · $50k median
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA18,430 jobs · $47k median
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN17,180 jobs · $43k median
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD15,260 jobs · $37k median
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH14,500 jobs · $46k median
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV11,910 jobs · $45k median
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL11,650 jobs · $36k median
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX11,100 jobs · $35k median

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Pay and outlook from BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills and work activities from O*NET 30.3. AI exposure and future-proof scores are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.