Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Louisville, KY
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median $34,360 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,703 take-home, or $2,392 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in Louisville, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,943
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,130
- Medicare (1.45%)$498
- Kentucky income tax$1,085
- Take-home pay$28,703
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro spans Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Louisville, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,650 | $13.29 | $23,530 | $1,961 |
| 25th percentile | $29,050 | $13.97 | $24,623 | $2,052 |
| Median (50th) | $34,360 | $16.52 | $28,703 | $2,392 |
| 75th percentile | $39,300 | $18.89 | $32,500 | $2,708 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,240 | $23.67 | $40,139 | $3,345 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,360 buys in Louisville, KY
Prices in Louisville, KY are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $28,703 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,839 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Louisville, KY 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
Louisville, KY ranks #31 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 |
| 31 | Louisville, KY | $34,360 | $28,703 | $30,839 |
*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 Louisville, KY?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $34,360 a year, or about $16.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,050 and $39,300.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Louisville, KY?
On the median $34,360 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $28,703 a year ($2,392 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,085 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Louisville, KY a good place to work as a preschool teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $38,140. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,839 would in a typical U.S. city. Louisville, KY ranks #31 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in Louisville, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Louisville, KY is $1,026 a month ($1,248 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median preschool teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.