Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Atlanta, GA
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $39,870 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,769 take-home, or $2,731 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,604
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,472
- Medicare (1.45%)$578
- Georgia income tax$1,446
- Take-home pay$32,769
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,160 | $13.54 | $23,961 | $1,997 |
| 25th percentile | $35,460 | $17.05 | $29,455 | $2,455 |
| Median (50th) | $39,870 | $19.17 | $32,769 | $2,731 |
| 75th percentile | $57,890 | $27.83 | $46,313 | $3,859 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,700 | $36.39 | $58,779 | $4,898 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,870 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $32,769 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,750 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 Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for preschool teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $39,870 | $32,769 | $32,750 |
*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 Atlanta, GA?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $39,870 a year, or about $19.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,460 and $57,890.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $39,870 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $32,769 a year ($2,731 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,446 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a preschool teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $38,140. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,750 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #15 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 60% 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 Atlanta, GA
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $130,880
- Instructional Coordinator — $81,520
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $77,960
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $77,570
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,210
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $77,180
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $76,570
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — $75,690
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $75,490
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other — $58,870
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $55,490
- Tutor — $48,180