Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In North Carolina, kindergarten teachers, except special educations earn $53,180 at the median. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $57,393 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 36.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $53K get you in North Carolina?
About kindergarten teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for kindergarten teachers, except special education in North Carolina runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 36.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for kindergarten teachers, except special educations.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level kindergarten teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary by metro in North Carolina
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $60K | +13% | 110 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $59K | +11% | 520 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $57K | +8% | 630 |
| Greenville | $56K | +6% | 40 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $55K | +3% | 60 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $53K | +0% | 100 |
| Winston-Salem | $53K | -0% | 90 |
| Burlington | $52K | -1% | 50 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $50K | -5% | 240 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $49K | -8% | 30 |
| Fayetteville | $48K | -10% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a kindergarten teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 36.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for kindergarten teachers, except special educations in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new kindergarten teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,446/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $53K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for kindergarten teachers, except special educations?
North Carolina pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do kindergarten teachers, except special educations make in North Carolina?
The median is $53,180 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,760, and experienced kindergarten teachers, except special educations can clear $63,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,531/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 36.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a kindergarten teachers, except special education salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median kindergarten teachers, except special education salary is worth about $57,393 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.