Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,620 or more. The middle half of preschool teachers (except special education) in Seattle earn between $44,680 and $48,820.
- $41K10th
- $45K25th
- $46KMedian
- $49K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,680 | $4,140 | $23.88 |
| Median | $46,380 | $3,865 | $22.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,680 | $3,723 | $21.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,820 | $4,068 | $23.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Preschool teachers (except special education) in Seattle earn 3% more than the Washington average ($48,140) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($43,030). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $38,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $49,680 | $46,380 | $40,840 | $60,620 | 8,590 |
| Washington | $48,140 | $45,660 | $38,080 | $60,130 | 13,210 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $49,680, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $42,098 a year, or $3,508 a month and $1,619 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for preschool teachers (except special education)? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $49,680 buys what about $44,703 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 15.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 2nd of 11 Washington metro areas for this job; Mount Vernon pays the most ($52,350).
- Mount Vernon$52,350
- Seattle$49,680
- Kennewick$45,780
- Longview$45,580
- Walla Walla$45,460
- Wenatchee$44,970
- Spokane$44,730
- Yakima$44,290
- Bremerton$44,010
- Olympia$43,770
All Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salaries in Washington
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 Seattle: questions
How much do preschool teachers (except special education) make an hour in Seattle?
$23.89 an hour on average, and $22.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level preschool teachers (except special education) salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the preschool teachers (except special education) take-home pay in Seattle?
About $42,098 a year ($3,508 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,680. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do preschool teachers (except special education) earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.34, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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