Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
The median pay for a preschool teachers, except special education in Tennessee is $34,280/year ($16.48/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $38,182 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 49.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $34K get you in Tennessee?
About preschool teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Preschool teachers, except special education pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $34K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 49.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level preschool teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary by metro in Tennessee
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $36K | +6% | 1,290 |
| Jackson | $36K | +5% | 120 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $35K | +2% | 200 |
| Chattanooga | $35K | +1% | 500 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $35K | +1% | 2,290 |
| Knoxville | $30K | -14% | 520 |
| Johnson City | $29K | -14% | 80 |
| Clarksville | $28K | -17% | 320 |
| Cleveland | $28K | -18% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track preschool teachers, except special education salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 49.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new preschool teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,630/month. At HUD’s $1,215/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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $34K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for preschool teachers, except special educations?
Tennessee pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do preschool teachers, except special educations make in Tennessee?
The median is $34,280 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,160, and experienced preschool teachers, except special educations can clear $64,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,465/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 49.3% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $38,182 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.