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Occupation · SOC 25-2012

Kindergarten Teachers, except Special Education

There are 108,870 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $62,680 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

Education & LibraryTypical education: Bachelor's degree
108,870
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$62,680
Median pay a year
Middle half: $52,180–$79,910
11,900
Annual openings
10-year change: −0.3%
170
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
−1.2% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 294 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $77,400 · LCA filings 108,180$77,40010
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $70,250 · LCA filings 53,350$70,2505
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $75,690 · LCA filings 32,650$75,6903
San Juan–Bayamon–Caguas, PRMedian pay $61,760 · LCA filings 02,610$61,7600
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $101,580 · LCA filings 82,530$101,5808
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $57,300 · LCA filings 02,420$57,3000
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $77,200 · LCA filings 52,400$77,2005
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZMedian pay $56,920 · LCA filings 82,310$56,9208
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIMedian pay $80,780 · LCA filings 31,900$80,7803
Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COMedian pay $74,960 · LCA filings 11,610$74,9601

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
El Centro, CAEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$111,880500
Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CAEmployment 740 · LCA filings 0$106,0007400
Modesto, CAEmployment 160 · LCA filings 0$103,7901600
Olympia–Lacey–Tumwater, WAEmployment 240 · LCA filings 0$103,6102400
Santa Maria–Santa Barbara, CAEmployment 290 · LCA filings 0$102,4502900

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 14 · Employment 6402414640
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAEmployers with LCA filings 10 · Employment 1,57015101,570
Milwaukee–Waukesha, WIEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 460111460
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 8 · Employment 8,1801088,180
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXEmployers with LCA filings 3 · Employment 1,270931,270

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $72,613 · Level III $86,877 · Level IV $101,140$58,350$72,613$86,877$101,140
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $63,033 · Level III $74,357 · Level IV $85,680$51,710$63,033$74,357$85,680
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $65,247 · Level III $74,093 · Level IV $82,940$56,400$65,247$74,093$82,940
San Juan–Bayamon–Caguas, PRLevel II $54,860 · Level III $60,490 · Level IV $66,120$49,230$54,860$60,490$66,120
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $87,803 · Level III $101,237 · Level IV $114,670$74,370$87,803$101,237$114,670
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $52,637 · Level III $57,083 · Level IV $61,530$48,190$52,637$57,083$61,530
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $67,943 · Level III $78,787 · Level IV $89,630$57,100$67,943$78,787$89,630
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZLevel II $53,077 · Level III $58,983 · Level IV $64,890$47,170$53,077$58,983$64,890
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WILevel II $63,933 · Level III $77,047 · Level IV $90,160$50,820$63,933$77,047$90,160
Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COLevel II $63,980 · Level III $73,130 · Level IV $82,280$54,830$63,980$73,130$82,280
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $68,067 · Level III $81,953 · Level IV $95,840$54,180$68,067$81,953$95,840
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $70,293 · Level III $87,237 · Level IV $104,180$53,350$70,293$87,237$104,180
Milwaukee–Waukesha, WILevel II $51,147 · Level III $59,403 · Level IV $67,660$42,890$51,147$59,403$67,660
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $59,533 · Level III $64,137 · Level IV $68,740$54,930$59,533$64,137$68,740

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsCIP 13.12OPT · up to 12 months1,494OPT · up to 12 months

See Kindergarten Teachers, except Special Education in every metro area

All 294 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

See every metro area →

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Related occupations · Education & Library

Teaching Assistants, except PostsecondaryElementary School Teachers, except Special EducationPreschool Teachers, except Special EducationSubstitute Teachers, Short-TermSecondary School Teachers, except Special and Career/Technical EducationSelf-Enrichment TeachersMiddle School Teachers, except Special and Career/Technical EducationTutors

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology