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Kindergarten teacher: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$62,680median pay per year, May 2025[1]
  1. $46,990lowest 10% earn less
  2. $52,18025th percentile
  3. $62,680median
  4. $79,91075th percentile
  5. $101,830top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

A kindergarten teacher (BLS title: Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education) had a median pay of $62,680 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to dip 0.3% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-0.3%[2]
Openings per year
11,900[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do kindergarten teachers make?

The median pay for kindergarten teachers was $62,680 a year, so half earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) was $69,370[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[4].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,990, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $52,180[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $79,910, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $101,830[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

BLS publishes only yearly wages for this job, not hourly ones, because many of these teachers put in under 2,080 hours in a year yet are paid a yearly salary[9]. We do not convert the yearly figures.

The data cover about 108,870 wage and salary workers[10]. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[11]. In the projections data, 0.2% of kindergarten teachers were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Among the 49 states and DC with published data, Washington had the highest median at $99,960, then Connecticut at $90,030 and Rhode Island at $85,470[13]. Montana had the lowest listed median, at $47,590[13].

The most jobs were in Florida (8,810), California (7,430), New York (6,950), New Jersey (5,370) and Washington (5,270)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA had the highest median at $106,000, followed by Modesto, CA at $103,790 and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA at $103,610[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, at 8,180[16].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[13]$99,9605,270
Connecticut$90,0301,420
Rhode Island$85,470360
Massachusetts$84,1001,980
California$82,5507,430
District of Columbia$81,500180
New York$77,6306,950
Maryland$75,9101,560
Minnesota$75,5002,840
New Mexico$74,380950
New Jersey$74,2105,370
Delaware$74,03070
Ohio$72,5703,290
Oregon$68,5801,330
Georgia$65,6804,530
Nevada$64,9301,400
Pennsylvania$64,4302,510
Illinois$64,0204,660
Virginia$63,9203,740
Texas$63,7803,820
Michigan$63,3001,890
Vermont$63,280250
Utah$63,190530
Colorado$62,8703,260
Idaho$62,240460
Nebraska$62,2001,120
Wyoming$60,990360
South Carolina$60,8901,540
Kentucky$60,2802,450
New Hampshire$60,240520
North Dakota$59,420600
Wisconsin$59,3501,510
West Virginia$58,790730
Iowa$58,4201,160
Indiana$58,2502,120
Florida$58,1008,810
Tennessee$58,0702,740
Kansas$56,6701,300
Missouri$56,5902,300
North Carolina$53,1802,250
Hawaii$53,16090
Louisiana$53,1303,730
Arizona$52,8303,020
Maine$52,660570
Arkansas$52,0601,490
Alabama$50,900310
South Dakota$49,410610
Mississippi$48,8801,350
Oklahoma$47,8601,690
Montana$47,590400

How to become a kindergarten teacher

The training details here come from a BLS profile that covers kindergarten and elementary school teachers together, so they describe a wider group[17]. Steps from the facts:

License rules vary by state, but they generally involve a minimum grade point average, student teaching, a background check and teaching tests[22][23][24][25]. All states offer an alternative route for people who have a bachelor's degree but lack the education courses[26]. Some states require a master's degree after certification and getting a job[27].

BLS lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[6]. In an O*NET survey of 32 workers, 76% said a bachelor's degree was required, 14% said a master's degree and 11% said a post-baccalaureate certificate[28]. The facts do not say how long preparation takes or what it costs.

What kindergarten teachers do

Kindergarten teachers teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students[29]. Common tasks include:

The list comes from O*NET[30]. Workers also report titles such as classroom teacher and bilingual kindergarten teacher[31].

Where they work

For the wider group of kindergarten and elementary teachers, 81% worked in local elementary and secondary schools in 2025[32]. These teachers generally work while students are present, and may also talk with parents, students and colleagues before or after the school day[33]. Grading and lesson planning often fill evenings and weekends[33].

Many work the traditional 10-month school year with a 2-month summer break and a short midwinter break, and some work in summer[34]. In districts with year-round schedules, teachers typically work 9 weeks and then have a 3-week break[35].

BLS notes that teaching may be stressful, and that some schools have large classes and lack tools such as computers and current textbooks[36].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of kindergarten teachers to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 111,200 to 110,900 jobs[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[37].

Even so, about 11,900 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs that open when people retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 4.4% of workers leave the labor force and 6.3% move to a different occupation[38].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job that pays above the all-occupation median and asks for a bachelor's degree, with a state license for public schools[1][4][6][21]. Pay differs a lot by state, from $47,590 to $99,960 at the median[13]. Total employment is projected to dip slightly, but yearly openings are large compared with the number of jobs[2][5]. The schedule follows the school year, with work outside school hours too[33][34].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[39].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a kindergarten teacher make a year?
The median was $62,680 a year in May 2025, and the mean was $69,370[1][7]. BLS publishes no hourly wage for this job[9].
What degree do you need to be a kindergarten teacher?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education for entry[6]. Public school teachers also need a state license or certification[21].
What is the highest paying state for kindergarten teachers?
Washington had the highest median at $99,960, followed by Connecticut at $90,030[13].
Is kindergarten teacher in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, versus 3.5% growth for all occupations, but about 11,900 openings a year are projected[2][37][5].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education in the US was $62,680 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education is projected to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 111,200 to 110,900 jobs (a change of -300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education: 10th percentile $46,990, 25th percentile $52,180, 75th percentile $79,910, 90th percentile $101,830. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 11,900 openings for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education was $69,370 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS publishes only annual wages for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 108,870 people were employed as Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 0.2% of Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education jobs: Florida 8,810; California 7,430; New York 6,950; New Jersey 5,370; Washington 5,270. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (areas with at least 100 jobs): Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $106,000; Modesto, CA $103,790; Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $103,610; Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $102,450; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $101,780; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $101,580; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $99,660; Bellingham, WA $98,460. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 8,180 (median $77,400); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,350 (median $70,250); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 2,650 (median $75,690); San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR 2,610 (median $61,760); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 2,530 (median $101,580); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 2,420 (median $57,300). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers" covers Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. O*NET 25-2012.00 survey of workers (32 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 76%, Master's Degree 14%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 11% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET description of Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET task list for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education. O*NET OnLine
  31. O*NET 25-2012.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Educator, Instructor, Kinder Teacher, Kindergarten Classroom Teacher, Teacher, Title One Kindergarten Teacher. O*NET OnLine
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of kindergarten and elementary school teachers in 2025: Elementary and secondary schools; local 81%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education: 4.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  39. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.