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Preschool Teachers salary in Seattle, WA

Preschool Teachers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area earn a median of $46,380 a year, an average of $49,680. About 8,590 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Preschool Teachers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$46,380
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$49,680
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$40,840
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$60,620
Top of the range
People employed
8,590
In Seattle metro area
Rent share of median wage
51.7%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Seattle

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,998
per month, in Seattle, WA
Income needed for median rent
$79,900
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median preschool teachers wage
$46,380
42.0% below income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
51.7%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$121,984
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Seattle area. Read the Seattle, WA cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Preschool Teachers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Denver, CO
-1.5%
Median $45,680
Mean $57,250
Employed 3,210
Oklahoma City, OK
-32.5%
Median $31,300
Mean $38,350
Employed 2,890
Nashville-Davidson, TN
-25.6%
Median $34,510
Mean $43,530
Employed 2,290
El Paso, TX
-35.3%
Median $30,030
Mean $33,750
Employed 960
Washington, DC
-3.7%
Median $44,660
Mean $50,820
Employed 11,910
Boston, MA
-0.8%
Median $46,030
Mean $48,190
Employed 14,500
Las Vegas, NV
-18.3%
Median $37,880
Mean $42,970
Employed 1,710
San Francisco, CA
+16.0%
Median $53,810
Mean $55,850
Employed 10,280

See preschool teachers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $46,380 / year
$46,380
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Washington (WA)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.