Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In Worcester, MA, kindergarten teachers, except special educations earn $89,770 at the median. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.52), that's roughly $87,563 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,056/month, about 36.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $90K get you in Worcester?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Worcester’s Regional Price Parity (102.52). 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 Worcester
Worcester sits well above the national pay line for kindergarten teachers, except special education, local pay runs about 43% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,056/month, which is 36.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.52) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for kindergarten teachers, except special educations in metros near Worcester, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $82K | $75K |
| Springfield | $78K | $81K |
| Barnstable Town | $96K | $97K |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $77K | $77K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Worcester, MA
Entry-level kindergarten teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $46K 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 Worcester numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a kindergarten teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Worcester?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $90K, rent takes 36.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,056/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/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 Worcester?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new kindergarten teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,461/month. At HUD’s $2,056/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Worcester?
Local pay is 43% above the national median — $90K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Worcester compare to the national average for kindergarten teachers, except special educations?
Worcester pays $90K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +43%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.52), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do kindergarten teachers, except special educations make in Worcester, MA?
The median is $89,770 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,690, and experienced kindergarten teachers, except special educations can clear $103,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in Worcester?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,588/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,056/month, which eats 36.8% 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 Worcester?
Worcester has a Regional Price Parity of 102.52 (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 $87,563 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.