Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
The median pay for a preschool teachers, except special education in Lincoln, NE is $37,800/year ($18.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.58), which stretches that salary to about $41,275 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,141/month, about 44.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $38K actually covers in Lincoln, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lincoln’s Regional Price Parity (91.58). 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 preschool teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in Lincoln
Preschool teachers, except special education pay in Lincoln tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,141/month, which is 43.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.58 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for preschool teachers, except special educations in metros near Lincoln, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $44K | $48K |
| St. Louis | $37K | $39K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $46K | , |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $34K | $37K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lincoln, NE
Entry-level preschool teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $62K | +63% | 2,350 |
| Vermont | $50K | +30% | 940 |
| Hawaii | $49K | +28% | 1,410 |
| New Jersey | $48K | +26% | 16,190 |
| Kansas | $48K | +25% | 1,330 |
| California | $47K | +24% | 55,700 |
| Nebraska | $47K | +23% | 1,630 |
| New York | $47K | +22% | 23,870 |
| Alaska | $46K | +21% | 520 |
| Massachusetts | $46K | +20% | 18,710 |
| Connecticut | $46K | +20% | 5,230 |
| Washington | $46K | +20% | 13,210 |
| Colorado | $46K | +19% | 5,210 |
| Oregon | $45K | +18% | 6,300 |
| Maryland | $45K | +17% | 8,020 |
| South Dakota | $45K | +17% | 1,470 |
| New Mexico | $44K | +16% | 2,490 |
| Georgia | $44K | +15% | 16,850 |
| Maine | $44K | +15% | 1,110 |
| Minnesota | $43K | +14% | 10,320 |
| Illinois | $41K | +7% | 22,420 |
| North Dakota | $40K | +4% | 540 |
| New Hampshire | $39K | +3% | 2,220 |
| Nevada | $39K | +2% | 2,360 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -0% | 3,570 |
| Virginia | $37K | -3% | 13,570 |
| Michigan | $37K | -3% | 10,950 |
| Rhode Island | $37K | -3% | 1,890 |
| Indiana | $37K | -4% | 7,110 |
| Montana | $37K | -4% | 960 |
| Delaware | $36K | -5% | 2,000 |
| Arizona | $36K | -5% | 9,400 |
| Mississippi | $36K | -5% | 3,600 |
| Wisconsin | $36K | -5% | 11,330 |
| Missouri | $36K | -5% | 5,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $36K | -5% | 22,760 |
| Florida | $36K | -6% | 35,740 |
| North Carolina | $36K | -6% | 18,370 |
| Ohio | $35K | -8% | 19,840 |
| Utah | $35K | -8% | 3,670 |
| South Carolina | $35K | -10% | 4,550 |
| Tennessee | $34K | -10% | 5,420 |
| Arkansas | $34K | -10% | 3,270 |
| Texas | $34K | -11% | 41,200 |
| Iowa | $34K | -11% | 5,910 |
| Idaho | $33K | -14% | 1,010 |
| West Virginia | $32K | -15% | 2,190 |
| Oklahoma | $32K | -17% | 7,010 |
| Wyoming | $30K | -22% | 1,040 |
| Kentucky | $30K | -22% | 8,520 |
| Alabama | $28K | -26% | 7,910 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track preschool teachers, except special education salary changes
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lincoln?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 43.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,141/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Lincoln?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new preschool teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,164/month. At HUD’s $1,141/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Lincoln?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Lincoln compare to the national average for preschool teachers, except special educations?
Lincoln pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do preschool teachers, except special educations make in Lincoln, NE?
The median is $37,800 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,750, and experienced preschool teachers, except special educations can clear $62,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Lincoln?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,607/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,141/month, which eats 43.8% 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 Lincoln?
Lincoln has a Regional Price Parity of 91.58 (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 $41,275 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.