Salaries › Preschool Teacher › California
Preschool Teacher Salary in California (2026)
$22.79 per hour · take-home ≈ $39,219/year ($3,268/month) for a single filer
Preschool Teacher pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $37,870 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $43,910 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $47,400 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $59,150 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $65,350 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 55,700 Preschool Teacher jobs in California (occupation code 25-2011, “Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Preschool Teacher salary of $47,400 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $39,219 — an effective tax rate of 17.3%.
| Gross (median) | $47,400 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,508 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,626 |
| California state income tax | −$1,046 |
| Take-home (annual) | $39,219 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,268 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Preschool Teacher make in California?
- The median Preschool Teacher salary in California is $47,400 per year ($22.79 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $43,910 and $59,150.
- What is the take-home pay for a Preschool Teacher in California?
- On the median salary of $47,400, a single filer in California takes home about $39,219 per year ($3,268 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.3%.
- How many Preschool Teacher jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 55,700 Preschool Teacher jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Preschool Teachers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.