SOC 25-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — Los Angeles
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Los Angeles, CA is $46,600 per year, 22.2% above 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 Los Angeles, CA is $46,600 per year, 22.2% above the national median of $38,140. Pay ranges from under $37,670 at the tenth percentile to more than $61,670 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $43,560 to $60,020.
The area has 18,430 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.9 of every thousand jobs. Visalia leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $56,930. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 597th of 740 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,670 | −1.2% |
| 25th | $43,560 | +14.2% |
| Median (50th) | $46,600 | +22.2% |
| 75th | $60,020 | +57.4% |
| 90th | $61,670 | +61.7% |
| Mean | $50,550 | +32.5% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visalia | $56,930 | 430 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $53,810 | 10,280 | |
| 3 | San Jose | $51,190 | 3,570 | |
| 4 | Modesto | $49,500 | 640 | |
| 5 | Santa Maria | $48,130 | 630 | |
| 6 | Merced | $48,120 | 290 | |
| 7 | Santa Cruz | $47,780 | 420 | |
| 8 | Salinas | $47,280 | 600 | |
| 9 | Vallejo | $46,960 | 450 | |
| 10 | Santa Rosa | $46,710 | 620 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Los Angeles run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $46,600 buys what $42,096 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 10.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,600as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,096US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,600 a year, 22.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,670 to $61,670 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 18,430 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Visalia, at $56,930.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Los Angeles, CA?
The median annual wage is $46,600, or $22.41 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 Los Angeles, CA is 22.2% higher. 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 Los Angeles, CA earns more than $61,670 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,670 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 Visalia, at $56,930 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 18,430 jobs in this occupation in Los Angeles, CA. 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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