Preschool teachers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Preschool teachers in the United States earn a median salary of $38,140 per year — about $18 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 555K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +4%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core of this occupation involves physical care, emotional support, and real-time social interaction with children under age five, which AI cannot replicate. While AI can assist with peripheral tasks like lesson planning, curriculum design, and progress reporting, the primary job requires physical presence and human empathy to manage safety and developmental needs.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, GABEST VALUE | $62,680 | Below avg (87.7) | $71,496 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $58,000 | Below avg (87.7) | $66,129 |
| Vineland, NJ | $63,340 | Below avg (96.0) | $66,001 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $51,310 | Below avg (85.1) | $60,292 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $59,320 | Average (98.9) | $60,006 |
| Visalia, CA | $56,930 | Average (99.8) | $57,030 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $57,680 | Above avg (103.2) | $55,887 |
| Manhattan, KS | $49,160 | Below avg (90.2) | $54,524 |
| Wichita, KS | $47,920 | Below avg (88.9) | $53,875 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $45,480 | Below avg (85.9) | $52,975 |
| Hinesville, GA | $49,690 | Below avg (93.9) | $52,899 |
| Rapid City, SD | $46,620 | Below avg (89.2) | $52,288 |
| Topeka, KS | $45,950 | Below avg (88.8) | $51,734 |
| Dalton, GA | $46,090 | Below avg (89.8) | $51,300 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $46,370 | Below avg (90.6) | $51,164 |