Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Denver, CO
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $45,680 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,582 take-home, or $3,132 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,302
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,832
- Medicare (1.45%)$662
- Colorado income tax$1,302
- Take-home pay$37,582
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 Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,590 | $17.59 | $30,679 | $2,557 |
| 25th percentile | $40,320 | $19.38 | $33,511 | $2,793 |
| Median (50th) | $45,680 | $21.96 | $37,582 | $3,132 |
| 75th percentile | $66,940 | $32.18 | $53,685 | $4,474 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,700 | $40.72 | $65,398 | $5,450 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,680 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $37,582 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,528 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 less concentrated in Denver, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for preschool teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #4 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 Denver, CO?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $45,680 a year, or about $21.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,320 and $66,940.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $45,680 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $37,582 a year ($3,132 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,302 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a preschool teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $38,140. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,528 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #4 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 56% 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 Denver, CO
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $168,720
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $79,230
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,340
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $76,910
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $45,090
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,910