SOC 25-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — Columbia
Columbia, MO · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Columbia, MO is $33,990 per year, 10.9% below the national median of $38,140.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Columbia, MO is $33,990 per year, 10.9% below the national median of $38,140. Pay ranges from under $28,600 at the tenth percentile to more than $55,230 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $30,330 to $47,860.
Employment stands at 400, or 3.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Kansas City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $37,400. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 309th of 336 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,600 | −25.0% |
| 25th | $30,330 | −20.5% |
| Median (50th) | $33,990 | −10.9% |
| 75th | $47,860 | +25.5% |
| 90th | $55,230 | +44.8% |
| Mean | $38,540 | +1.0% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $37,400 | 1,190 | |
| 2 | St. Louis | $37,020 | 3,680 | |
| 3 | St. Joseph | $35,150 | 90 | |
| 4 | Jefferson City | $33,190 | 160 | |
| 5 | Joplin | $31,330 | 180 | |
| 6 | Springfield | $30,410 | 330 | |
| 7 | Cape Girardeau | $29,830 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Columbia run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $33,990 goes as far as $37,434 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$33,990as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,434US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $33,990 a year, 10.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,600 to $55,230 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 400 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kansas City, at $37,400.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Columbia, MO?
The median annual wage is $33,990, or $16.34 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $38,140, so pay in Columbia, MO is 10.9% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Columbia, MO earns more than $55,230 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,600 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kansas City, at $37,400 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 400 jobs in this occupation in Columbia, MO. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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