Compensation
Median Pay
$62,680
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Kindergarten teachers, except special education
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$62,680
Projected Growth
-1.6%
Annual Openings
12,800
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
117,200
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
-1.6%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
12,800
Estimated openings created each year.
Pathway
Preparation
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
STEP 1
Education
Bachelor's degree
STEP 2
Experience
None
STEP 3
Training
None
Top Skills for Success
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Creativity & innovation
96 / 100
96%
Interpersonal
91 / 100
91%
Adaptability
90 / 100
90%
Speaking & listening
87 / 100
87%
Leadership
83 / 100
83%
Problem solving & decision making
68 / 100
68%
Mathematics
65 / 100
65%
Writing & reading
63 / 100
63%
Customer service
61 / 100
61%
Critical & analytical thinking
54 / 100
54%
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Location Intelligence
Best Places for This Career
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
PRO
Best Metro Areas
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
- Top-paying cities
- Fast-growing markets
- Local opportunity rankings
CAREERGPS INSIGHTS
Career Analysis for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Kindergarten teachers, except special education a Good Career?
Kindergarten teachers, except special education, work in a well-established profession with a sizable national workforce of 117,000. The role offers a structured path, typically requiring at least a bachelor’s degree, and draws on a broad mix of skills, including creativity and innovation, interpersonal strengths, speaking and listening, leadership, and problem solving and decision making. The national median annual salary of $61,430 reflects a stable earnings profile, with higher pay available in certain states and metro areas. Although projected employment growth is -1.6%, there are still an estimated 13,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing turnover and opportunities for new entrants and career changers. Top skills such as adaptability, critical and analytical thinking, and strong writing and reading support long-term effectiveness in the classroom. For those interested in related paths, similar occupations include elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers, as well as special education teachers (preschool) and family and consumer sciences teachers at the postsecondary level.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
Kindergarten teachers, except special education, earn a national median annual salary of $61,430. Pay varies meaningfully by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington reports a median salary of $99,960, while Massachusetts and California also stand out with median salaries of $84,100 and $82,550, respectively. New York follows at $77,630 and Colorado at $62,870. At the metro level, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV shows a median salary of $77,200, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is close at $77,400. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA offers $84,620, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH reports $81,700, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers $74,600. These figures indicate that earning potential for this career can increase substantially in certain states and metro areas compared with the national median.
Job Outlook for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Nationally, kindergarten teachers, except special education, account for 117,000 jobs. Projected employment growth for this occupation is -1.6%. Even with this negative growth rate, there are still an estimated 13,000 annual openings. This combination suggests that while the overall employment level may decline slightly over time, ongoing hiring needs continue due to factors such as job changes and other forms of turnover, which are reflected in the annual openings figure. The consistent -1.6% projected growth rate is also used in the state and metro data listed among the top locations by opportunity score, indicating a broadly similar growth outlook across those highlighted regions. For career planning, this means prospective kindergarten teachers may need to be selective about location and should pay attention to the number of openings and opportunity scores in different areas when considering long-term employment prospects.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education?
Location plays a significant role in opportunities for kindergarten teachers, except special education. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York combine relatively high median salaries with strong CareerGPS opportunity scores above 65. California reports a median salary of $82,550 with employment of 7,430 and an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts offers a median salary of $84,100, employment of 1,980, and an opportunity score of 65.87. New York provides a median salary of $77,630, employment of 6,950, and an opportunity score of 65.78. Washington stands out for its $99,960 median salary and employment of 5,270, with an opportunity score of 56.29, while Colorado has a median salary of $62,870 and employment of 3,260. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ offer the highest opportunity scores (77.42 and 77.27), with strong salaries and notable employment levels, making them especially prominent local markets for this occupation.
Education for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
The typical education requirement for kindergarten teachers, except special education, is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education supports the diverse skill set associated with the role. Key skills include creativity and innovation, which can help with engaging young learners, as well as strong interpersonal abilities and adaptability, which support day-to-day classroom interactions. Speaking and listening skills are central to clear communication, while leadership, problem solving and decision making, and critical and analytical thinking contribute to managing and guiding a classroom environment. Mathematics and writing and reading skills are also important, reflecting the need to work effectively with early academic content. Customer service skills round out the profile by emphasizing responsiveness to the needs of students and families. Together, the bachelor’s degree requirement and this mix of top skills outline a professional path that combines academic preparation with strong people-centered competencies.
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