Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Seattle, WA
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $46,380 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,446 take-home, or $3,287 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,386
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,876
- Medicare (1.45%)$673
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,446
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,840 | $19.63 | $34,995 | $2,916 |
| 25th percentile | $44,680 | $21.48 | $38,080 | $3,173 |
| Median (50th) | $46,380 | $22.30 | $39,446 | $3,287 |
| 75th percentile | $48,820 | $23.47 | $41,407 | $3,451 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,620 | $29.14 | $50,888 | $4,241 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,380 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $39,446 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,495 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA has 1.3× 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
Seattle, WA ranks #5 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 |
*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 Seattle, WA?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $46,380 a year, or about $22.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,680 and $48,820.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $46,380 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $39,446 a year ($3,287 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA 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 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,495 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #5 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 62% 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 Seattle, WA
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $164,860
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $102,920
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $102,670
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $102,560
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — $101,580
- Instructional Coordinator — $97,130
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $60,070
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $53,950
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $48,530