The average salary for a kindergarten teacher in California is around $82,550 per year.
Avg Salary
Kindergarten teachers earn an average yearly salary of $82,550.
Wages typically start from $53,210 and go up to $124,400.
9% above national average Updated in 2025
Kindergarten teacher earnings by seniority
Top-level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:
$59.81 per hour
$124,400 per year
Senior-level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:
$51.61 per hour
$107,340 per year
Mid-level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:
$39.69 per hour
$82,550 per year
Junior-level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:
$30.82 per hour
$64,100 per year
Starting level kindergarten teacher earnings begin at:
$25.58 per hour
$53,210 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Kindergarten teacher salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $99,960 |
| Connecticut | $90,030 |
| Rhode Island | $85,470 |
| Massachusetts | $84,100 |
| California | $82,550 |
| District of Columbia | $81,500 |
| New York | $77,630 |
| Maryland | $75,910 |
| Minnesota | $75,500 |
| New Mexico | $74,380 |
| New Jersey | $74,210 |
| Delaware | $74,030 |
| Ohio | $72,570 |
| Oregon | $68,580 |
| Georgia | $65,680 |
| Nevada | $64,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,430 |
| Illinois | $64,020 |
| Virginia | $63,920 |
| Texas | $63,780 |
| Michigan | $63,300 |
| Vermont | $63,280 |
| Utah | $63,190 |
| Colorado | $62,870 |
| Idaho | $62,240 |
| Nebraska | $62,200 |
| Alaska | $62,140 |
| Wyoming | $60,990 |
| South Carolina | $60,890 |
| Kentucky | $60,280 |
| New Hampshire | $60,240 |
| North Dakota | $59,420 |
| Wisconsin | $59,350 |
| West Virginia | $58,790 |
| Iowa | $58,420 |
| Indiana | $58,250 |
| Florida | $58,100 |
| Tennessee | $58,070 |
| Kansas | $56,670 |
| Missouri | $56,590 |
| North Carolina | $53,180 |
| Hawaii | $53,160 |
| Louisiana | $53,130 |
| Arizona | $52,830 |
| Maine | $52,660 |
| Arkansas | $52,060 |
| Alabama | $50,900 |
| South Dakota | $49,410 |
| Mississippi | $48,880 |
| Oklahoma | $47,860 |
| Guam | $47,680 |
| Montana | $47,590 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,670 |
How much does a Kindergarten Teacher earn?
Where one works has an impact on a kindergarten teacher’s starting salary. Salaries can vary from district to district and from state to state. Urban areas tend to offer higher kindergarten teacher salaries, but the cost of living is also higher. While a kindergarten teacher may earn less in a rural area, they'll probably spend less for rent, food, gas, and other expenses.
Kindergarten teachers at public primary schools generally fare better with their salary than those teaching at private schools. As well, possessing an advanced degree can lead to a higher starting salary. According to Huffington Post, school districts in the United States pay more than $8.6 billion per year in bonuses for teachers with a master’s degree (bonuses range from $1,423 to $10,777).
How do kindergarten teacher salaries compare to similar careers?
Kindergarten teachers earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than high school teachers but more than childcare program administrators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| High school teacher salary | $101K |
| Nurse educator salary | $82K |
| Elementary school teacher salary | $100K |
| School counselor salary | $86K |
| Librarian salary | $90K |
| Kindergarten teacher salary | $83K |
| Clergy salary | $78K |
| Teacher salary | $83K |
| Health educator salary | $64K |
| Childcare program administrator salary | $67K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)