Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $36,750 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,580 take-home, or $2,548 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,230
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,279
- Medicare (1.45%)$533
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,128
- Take-home pay$30,580
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,374 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,206 ($2,434 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,350 | $14.59 | $25,634 | $2,136 |
| 25th percentile | $35,470 | $17.05 | $29,591 | $2,466 |
| Median (50th) | $36,750 | $17.67 | $30,580 | $2,548 |
| 75th percentile | $44,030 | $21.17 | $36,206 | $3,017 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,280 | $28.50 | $47,992 | $3,999 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,750 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $30,580 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,819 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Philadelphia, PA has 1.7× 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
Philadelphia, PA ranks #34 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 |
| 34 | Philadelphia, PA | $36,750 | $30,580 | $29,819 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $35,650
Frequently asked questions
How much does a preschool teachers, except special education make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $36,750 a year, or about $17.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,470 and $44,030.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $36,750 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $30,580 a year ($2,548 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,128 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a preschool teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $38,140. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,819 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #34 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 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 Philadelphia, PA
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $108,150
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $80,560
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $79,760
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School — $78,860
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $78,570
- Instructional Coordinator — $78,400
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $78,130
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $77,330
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $74,290
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $46,650
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $45,680
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,080