Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In Modesto, CA, kindergarten teachers, except special educations earn $103,790 at the median. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.11), that's roughly $99,693 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,758/month, or 27.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $104K get you in Modesto?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Modesto’s Regional Price Parity (104.11). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About kindergarten teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in Modesto
Modesto sits well above the national pay line for kindergarten teachers, except special education, local pay runs about 66% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,758/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.11) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for kindergarten teachers, except special educations in metros near Modesto, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $78K | $69K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $83K | $78K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $106K | $99K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $75K | $65K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Modesto, CA
Entry-level kindergarten teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $100K | +59% | 5,270 |
| Connecticut | $90K | +44% | 1,420 |
| Rhode Island | $85K | +36% | 360 |
| Massachusetts | $84K | +34% | 1,980 |
| California | $83K | +32% | 7,430 |
| District of Columbia | $82K | +30% | 180 |
| New York | $78K | +24% | 6,950 |
| Maryland | $76K | +21% | 1,560 |
| Minnesota | $76K | +20% | 2,840 |
| New Mexico | $74K | +19% | 950 |
| New Jersey | $74K | +18% | 5,370 |
| Delaware | $74K | +18% | 70 |
| Ohio | $73K | +16% | 3,290 |
| Oregon | $69K | +9% | 1,330 |
| Georgia | $66K | +5% | 4,530 |
| Nevada | $65K | +4% | 1,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $64K | +3% | 2,510 |
| Illinois | $64K | +2% | 4,660 |
| Virginia | $64K | +2% | 3,740 |
| Texas | $64K | +2% | 3,820 |
| Michigan | $63K | +1% | 1,890 |
| Vermont | $63K | +1% | 250 |
| Utah | $63K | +1% | 530 |
| Colorado | $63K | +0% | 3,260 |
| Idaho | $62K | -1% | 460 |
| Nebraska | $62K | -1% | 1,120 |
| Wyoming | $61K | -3% | 360 |
| South Carolina | $61K | -3% | 1,540 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -4% | 2,450 |
| New Hampshire | $60K | -4% | 520 |
| North Dakota | $59K | -5% | 600 |
| Wisconsin | $59K | -5% | 1,510 |
| West Virginia | $59K | -6% | 730 |
| Iowa | $58K | -7% | 1,160 |
| Indiana | $58K | -7% | 2,120 |
| Florida | $58K | -7% | 8,810 |
| Tennessee | $58K | -7% | 2,740 |
| Kansas | $57K | -10% | 1,300 |
| Missouri | $57K | -10% | 2,300 |
| North Carolina | $53K | -15% | 2,250 |
| Hawaii | $53K | -15% | 90 |
| Louisiana | $53K | -15% | 3,730 |
| Arizona | $53K | -16% | 3,020 |
| Maine | $53K | -16% | 570 |
| Arkansas | $52K | -17% | 1,490 |
| Alabama | $51K | -19% | 310 |
| South Dakota | $49K | -21% | 610 |
| Mississippi | $49K | -22% | 1,350 |
| Oklahoma | $48K | -24% | 1,690 |
| Montana | $48K | -24% | 400 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track kindergarten teachers, except special education salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Modesto numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a kindergarten teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Modesto?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 27.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,758/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for kindergarten teachers, except special educations in Modesto?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new kindergarten teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,635/month. At HUD’s $1,758/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is kindergarten teachers, except special education a high-paying job in Modesto?
Local pay is 66% above the national median — $104K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Modesto compare to the national average for kindergarten teachers, except special educations?
Modesto pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +66%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.11), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do kindergarten teachers, except special educations make in Modesto, CA?
The median is $103,790 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,580, and experienced kindergarten teachers, except special educations can clear $127,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Modesto?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,301/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,758/month, which eats 27.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a kindergarten teachers, except special education salary go in Modesto?
Modesto has a Regional Price Parity of 104.11 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median kindergarten teachers, except special education salary is worth about $99,693 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do kindergarten teachers, except special educations get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.