SalaryExplorer

SOC 25-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationLexington

Lexington-Fayette, KY · 5 metro areas compared

$29,370 /year
$14.12per hour
1,280jobs in area
23.0%vs US median

The median wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Lexington, KY is $29,370 per year, 23.0% below the national median of $38,140.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $38,14010TH$23,960MEDIAN$29,37075TH$36,29090TH$48,520

Salary overview

The median wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Lexington, KY is $29,370 per year, 23.0% below the national median of $38,140. Half of workers earn between $28,000 and $36,290. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $23,960 and the ninetieth at $48,520.

The area has 1,280 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 4.4 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Louisville/Jefferson County records the highest median at $34,360. Of the 469 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 457th.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Lexington-Fayette, KY · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$23,960−37.2%
25th$28,000−26.6%
Median (50th)$29,370−23.0%
75th$36,290−4.9%
90th$48,520+27.2%
Mean$34,570−9.4%

Other metro areas in Kentucky

Median annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Louisville/Jefferson County$34,3602,810
2Elizabethtown$34,290170
3Owensboro$28,110260
4Bowling Green$28,040360
5Paducah$28,010240

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Lexington run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $29,370 goes as far as $32,561 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.6% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$29,370as reported by BLS

Local price level

90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$32,561US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $29,370 a year, 23.0% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $23,960 to $48,520 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 1,280 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Louisville/Jefferson County, at $34,360.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Lexington, KY?

The median annual wage is $29,370, or $14.12 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 Lexington, KY is 23.0% 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 Lexington, KY earns more than $48,520 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $23,960 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, at $34,360 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 1,280 jobs in this occupation in Lexington, KY. 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.

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Lexington, KY (2025): $29,370 Median | Salary Explorer