Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $46,600 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,164 take-home, or $3,180 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,412
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,889
- Medicare (1.45%)$676
- California income tax$853
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$606
- Take-home pay$38,164
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,670 | $18.11 | $31,462 | $2,622 |
| 25th percentile | $43,560 | $20.94 | $35,882 | $2,990 |
| Median (50th) | $46,600 | $22.40 | $38,164 | $3,180 |
| 75th percentile | $60,020 | $28.86 | $47,975 | $3,998 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,670 | $29.65 | $49,180 | $4,098 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,600 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $38,164 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,605 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for preschool teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $46,600 | $38,164 | $33,605 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $51,190
- San Francisco, CA — $53,810
- Riverside, CA — $46,010
- Sacramento, CA — $44,250
- San Diego, CA — $44,940
Frequently asked questions
How much does a preschool teachers, except special education make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $46,600 a year, or about $22.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,560 and $60,020.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $46,600 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $38,164 a year ($3,180 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,459 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a preschool teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $38,140. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,605 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #11 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 71% of a median preschool teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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