Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $36,240 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,485 take-home, or $2,540 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,169
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,247
- Medicare (1.45%)$525
- Wisconsin income tax$814
- Take-home pay$30,485
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,130 | $13.52 | $24,304 | $2,025 |
| 25th percentile | $30,000 | $14.42 | $25,746 | $2,146 |
| Median (50th) | $36,240 | $17.42 | $30,485 | $2,540 |
| 75th percentile | $38,020 | $18.28 | $31,837 | $2,653 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,560 | $21.90 | $37,564 | $3,130 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,240 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $30,485 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,449 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Milwaukee, WI has 1.6× the national concentration of preschool teachers, except special education jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for preschool teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Milwaukee, WI | $36,240 | $30,485 | $31,449 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a preschool teachers, except special education make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $36,240 a year, or about $17.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,000 and $38,020.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $36,240 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $30,485 a year ($2,540 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $814 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a preschool teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $38,140. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,449 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #23 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median preschool teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.