Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
The median pay for a preschool teachers, except special education in Kentucky is $29,780/year ($14.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $52K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $33,005 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 52.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $30K get you in Kentucky?
About preschool teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for preschool teachers, except special education in Kentucky runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $38K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,110/month, which is 53.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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 preschool teachers, except special educations.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level preschool teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $30K. Top earners bring in $52K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $34K | +15% | 2,810 |
| Elizabethtown | $34K | +15% | 170 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $29K | -1% | 1,280 |
| Owensboro | $28K | -6% | 260 |
| Bowling Green | $28K | -6% | 360 |
| Paducah | $28K | -6% | 240 |
Compare to other states
Track preschool teachers, except special education salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $30K, rent takes 53.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/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 Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new preschool teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $23K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,409/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 79% 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 Kentucky?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $30K here vs. $38K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for preschool teachers, except special educations?
Kentucky pays $30K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $33K — below the national median.
How much do preschool teachers, except special educations make in Kentucky?
The median is $29,780 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,490, and experienced preschool teachers, except special educations can clear $51,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $30K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,065/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 53.8% 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 preschool teachers, except special education salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 preschool teachers, except special education salary is worth about $33,005 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.