Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay range in Chico
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,750 or more. The middle half of preschool teachers (except special education) in Chico earn between $36,640 and $48,050.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $44KMedian
- $48K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,490 | $3,791 | $21.87 |
| Median | $44,080 | $3,673 | $21.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,640 | $3,053 | $17.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,050 | $4,004 | $23.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Chico vs. California and the U.S.
Preschool teachers (except special education) in Chico earn 11% less than the California average ($51,190) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($43,030). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $38,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | $45,490 | $44,080 | $34,960 | $59,750 | 300 |
| California | $51,190 | $47,400 | $37,870 | $65,350 | 55,700 |
| United States | $43,030 | $38,140 | $28,990 | $61,390 | 478,780 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary after taxes in Chico
On the average salary of $45,490, a single filer in Chico takes home about $37,776 a year, or $3,148 a month and $1,453 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Chico a good place for preschool teachers (except special education)? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chico area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.2), so the average $45,490 buys what about $44,952 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chico ($48,050). A typical home costs $401,581, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary in other California cities
Chico ranks 25th of 25 California metro areas for this job; Visalia pays the most ($56,190).
- Visalia$56,190
- San Francisco$55,850
- Modesto$55,820
- San Jose$55,510
- Merced$53,500
- Salinas$52,530
- Santa Cruz$52,250
- Los Angeles$50,550
- Napa$50,540
- Chico$45,490
All Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for preschool teachers (except special education)
Vineland, NJ pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($62,570).
- Vineland, NJ$62,570
- Albany, GA$62,070
- Atlantic City, NJ$58,560
- Brunswick, GA$58,180
- Denver, CO$57,250
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Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary in Chico: questions
How much do preschool teachers (except special education) make an hour in Chico?
$21.87 an hour on average, and $21.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level preschool teachers (except special education) salary in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the preschool teachers (except special education) take-home pay in Chico?
About $37,776 a year ($3,148 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,490. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do preschool teachers (except special education) earn more in Chico than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($43,030).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-2011; area Chico, CA (17020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.25, this job is 1.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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