Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Cleveland, OH
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median $35,520 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,526 take-home, or $2,544 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in Cleveland, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,082
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,202
- Medicare (1.45%)$515
- Ohio income tax$194
- Take-home pay$30,526
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Cleveland? City residents also pay Cleveland’s city income tax — about $888 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,638 ($2,470 a month). Choose “Cleveland” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Cleveland, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,300 | $13.13 | $24,092 | $2,008 |
| 25th percentile | $29,660 | $14.26 | $25,979 | $2,165 |
| Median (50th) | $35,520 | $17.08 | $30,526 | $2,544 |
| 75th percentile | $37,890 | $18.22 | $32,365 | $2,697 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,620 | $25.30 | $43,795 | $3,650 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,520 buys in Cleveland, OH
Prices in Cleveland, OH are 6.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $30,526 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,501 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education jobs are about as common in Cleveland, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for preschool teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Cleveland, OH ranks #17 of 39 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $51,190 | $41,525 | $37,605 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $53,810 | $43,439 | $37,573 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $50,230 | $40,424 | $35,913 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,680 | $37,582 | $35,528 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $46,380 | $39,446 | $35,495 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $46,010 | $37,721 | $35,438 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $43,960 | $35,969 | $34,314 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $46,030 | $37,084 | $34,252 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $35,520 | $30,526 | $32,501 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 39 metros →
About the job: preschool teachers, except special education
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.5% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cincinnati, OH — $35,430
- Columbus, OH — $35,370
Frequently asked questions
How much does a preschool teachers, except special education make in Cleveland, OH?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $35,520 a year, or about $17.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,660 and $37,890.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Cleveland, OH?
On the median $35,520 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $30,526 a year ($2,544 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $194 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cleveland, OH a good place to work as a preschool teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $38,140. Local prices are 6.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,501 would in a typical U.S. city. Cleveland, OH ranks #17 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in Cleveland, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cleveland, OH is $1,048 a month ($1,268 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median preschool teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cleveland, OH
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $80,580
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School — $79,890
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $79,610
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $76,470
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $37,380