Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay range in Lakeland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,860 or more. The middle half of preschool teachers (except special education) in Lakeland earn between $29,710 and $36,490.
- $29K10th
- $30K25th
- $35KMedian
- $36K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,680 | $2,973 | $17.15 |
| Median | $34,780 | $2,898 | $16.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,710 | $2,476 | $14.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,490 | $3,041 | $17.54 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Lakeland vs. Florida and the U.S.
Preschool teachers (except special education) in Lakeland earn 4% less than the Florida average ($37,040) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($43,030). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $38,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | $35,680 | $34,780 | $29,130 | $47,860 | 910 |
| Florida | $37,040 | $35,860 | $29,550 | $46,980 | 35,740 |
| 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 Lakeland
On the average salary of $35,680, a single filer in Lakeland takes home about $30,849 a year, or $2,571 a month and $1,186 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Lakeland a good place for preschool teachers (except special education)? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lakeland area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $35,680 buys what about $36,730 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lakeland ($46,140). A typical home costs $298,816, or 8.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary in other Florida cities
Lakeland ranks 15th of 22 Florida metro areas for this job; Naples pays the most ($43,570).
- Naples$43,570
- Sarasota$38,260
- Tampa$38,080
- Crestview$37,540
- Miami$37,360
- Jacksonville$37,290
- Palm Bay$37,040
- Homosassa Springs$36,990
- Orlando$36,430
- Lakeland$35,680
All Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salaries in Florida
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 Lakeland: questions
How much do preschool teachers (except special education) make an hour in Lakeland?
$17.16 an hour on average, and $16.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level preschool teachers (except special education) salary in Lakeland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the preschool teachers (except special education) take-home pay in Lakeland?
About $30,849 a year ($2,571 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,680. Florida has no state income tax.
Do preschool teachers (except special education) earn more in Lakeland than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL (29460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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