Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $36,500 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,804 take-home, or $2,567 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,200
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,263
- Medicare (1.45%)$529
- Arizona income tax$704
- Take-home pay$30,804
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,850 | $16.27 | $28,741 | $2,395 |
| 25th percentile | $35,430 | $17.03 | $29,971 | $2,498 |
| Median (50th) | $36,500 | $17.55 | $30,804 | $2,567 |
| 75th percentile | $38,150 | $18.34 | $32,089 | $2,674 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,770 | $23.45 | $40,356 | $3,363 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,500 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $30,804 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,815 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 Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for preschool teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #35 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 |
| 35 | Phoenix, AZ | $36,500 | $30,804 | $29,815 |
*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 Phoenix, AZ?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $36,500 a year, or about $17.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,430 and $38,150.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $36,500 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $30,804 a year ($2,567 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $704 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ 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 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,815 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #35 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 62% 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 Phoenix, AZ
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $96,660
- Instructional Coordinator — $65,340
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $61,330
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $59,570
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $59,180
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary — $49,810
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $41,590
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,450