Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
The median pay for a preschool teachers, except special education in Colorado is $45,500/year ($21.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $43,872 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 58% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $46K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About preschool teachers, except special educations
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Colorado
Colorado sits well above the national pay line for preschool teachers, except special education, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $38K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,832/month, which is 60.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level preschool teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $47K | +2% | 390 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $46K | +0% | 3,210 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $44K | -3% | 230 |
| Greeley | $43K | -6% | 190 |
| Colorado Springs | $41K | -10% | 400 |
| Grand Junction | $39K | -14% | 100 |
| Pueblo | $39K | -15% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track preschool teachers, except special education salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 60.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for preschool teachers, except special educations in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new preschool teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,437/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 75% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is preschool teachers, except special education a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $46K here vs. $38K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for preschool teachers, except special educations?
Colorado pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do preschool teachers, except special educations make in Colorado?
The median is $45,500 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,820, and experienced preschool teachers, except special educations can clear $84,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,050/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 60.1% 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 preschool teachers, except special education salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 preschool teachers, except special education salary is worth about $43,872 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do preschool 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.