Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Columbus, OH
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $35,370 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,409 take-home, or $2,534 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,064
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,193
- Medicare (1.45%)$513
- Ohio income tax$190
- Take-home pay$30,409
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $884 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,525 ($2,460 a month). Choose “Columbus” 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 Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,610 | $13.27 | $24,347 | $2,029 |
| 25th percentile | $29,880 | $14.37 | $26,149 | $2,179 |
| Median (50th) | $35,370 | $17.00 | $30,409 | $2,534 |
| 75th percentile | $36,720 | $17.65 | $31,457 | $2,621 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,990 | $21.15 | $37,099 | $3,092 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,370 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $30,409 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,853 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Columbus, OH has 1.4× 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
Columbus, OH ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $35,370 | $30,409 | $31,853 |
*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
- Cleveland, OH — $35,520
- Cincinnati, OH — $35,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a preschool teachers, except special education make in Columbus, OH?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $35,370 a year, or about $17.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,880 and $36,720.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $35,370 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $30,409 a year ($2,534 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $190 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, 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 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,853 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #20 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 47% 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 Columbus, OH
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $81,400
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $78,150
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $64,410
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $37,940
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $35,900