SOC 25-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — Worcester
Worcester, MA · 5 metro areas compared
In Worcester, MA the median wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education is $44,460 a year, which is 16.6% higher than the national figure of $38,140.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Worcester, MA the median wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education is $44,460 a year, which is 16.6% higher than the national figure of $38,140. Half of workers earn between $38,770 and $47,950. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $35,810 and the ninetieth at $60,760.
The area has 1,650 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.53 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Barnstable Town leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,190. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 409th of 481 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,810 | −6.1% |
| 25th | $38,770 | +1.7% |
| Median (50th) | $44,460 | +16.6% |
| 75th | $47,950 | +25.7% |
| 90th | $60,760 | +59.3% |
| Mean | $47,690 | +25.0% |
Other metro areas in Massachusetts
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnstable Town | $47,190 | 270 | |
| 2 | Boston | $46,030 | 14,500 | |
| 3 | Amherst Town | $45,430 | 340 | |
| 4 | Pittsfield | $44,540 | 320 | |
| 5 | Springfield | $43,890 | 740 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Worcester run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $44,460 buys what $42,023 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 10.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,023US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,460 a year, 16.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,810 to $60,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,650 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Barnstable Town, at $47,190.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Worcester, MA?
The median annual wage is $44,460, or $21.38 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 Worcester, MA is 16.6% 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 Worcester, MA earns more than $60,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,810 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 Barnstable Town, at $47,190 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,650 jobs in this occupation in Worcester, MA. 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.
Explore related data