Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Portland, OR
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $45,310 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,452 take-home, or $2,954 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,257
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,809
- Medicare (1.45%)$657
- Oregon income tax$3,135
- Take-home pay$35,452
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. 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 Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,570 | $18.06 | $29,910 | $2,492 |
| 25th percentile | $39,520 | $19.00 | $31,306 | $2,609 |
| Median (50th) | $45,310 | $21.78 | $35,452 | $2,954 |
| 75th percentile | $58,140 | $27.95 | $44,638 | $3,720 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,240 | $32.81 | $51,695 | $4,308 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,310 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $35,452 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,629 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 Portland, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for preschool teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $45,310 | $35,452 | $33,629 |
*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 Portland, OR?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $45,310 a year, or about $21.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,520 and $58,140.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $45,310 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $35,452 a year ($2,954 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,135 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a preschool teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $38,140. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,629 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #10 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 57% 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 Portland, OR
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $89,590
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $84,120
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $82,330
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $61,190
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $53,790
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $45,280