Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in St. Louis, MO
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $37,020 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,123 take-home, or $2,594 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,262
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,295
- Medicare (1.45%)$537
- Missouri income tax$803
- Take-home pay$31,123
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $370 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $30,753 ($2,563 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,990 | $14.42 | $25,805 | $2,150 |
| 25th percentile | $34,440 | $16.56 | $29,171 | $2,431 |
| Median (50th) | $37,020 | $17.80 | $31,123 | $2,594 |
| 75th percentile | $44,020 | $21.16 | $36,418 | $3,035 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,010 | $25.97 | $43,976 | $3,665 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,020 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% 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 $31,123 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,731 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for preschool teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | St. Louis, MO | $37,020 | $31,123 | $32,731 |
*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 St. Louis, MO?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $37,020 a year, or about $17.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,440 and $44,020.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $37,020 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $31,123 a year ($2,594 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $803 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a preschool teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $38,140. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,731 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #16 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 38% 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 St. Louis, MO
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,180
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,130
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $60,650
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $39,740
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,410
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $35,900