Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Missouri
$39,030avg. a year
$18.76 an hour · 5,580 employed
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Missouri earn an average of $39,030 a year. That is $4,000 (9%) less than the U.S. average of $43,030. The best-paying metro area is St. Joseph, MO-KS at $44,450.
$36,090Median pay
$18.76Average hourly
+13%Avg. pay since 2020
#30Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Missouri metro areas
Average pay for preschool teachers, except special education by metro area. Swipe to see all 8.
190 jobs
St. Joseph, MO-KS
$44,450
$21.37 an hour
21,190 jobs
Kansas City, MO-KS
$41,010
$19.72 an hour
33,680 jobs
St. Louis, MO-IL
$40,290
$19.37 an hour
4400 jobs
Columbia, MO
$38,540
$18.53 an hour
5180 jobs
Joplin, MO-KS
$38,090
$18.31 an hour
6330 jobs
Springfield, MO
$36,340
$17.47 an hour
7160 jobs
Jefferson City, MO
$34,270
$16.48 an hour
8120 jobs
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
$32,740
$15.74 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Missouri, charted
Pay over time
Missouri, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Missouri preschool teachers, except special education work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Missouri highlighted · tap a state
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Under $37k$37k–$41k$41k–$48k$48k+Missouri
Missouri vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $43,030 | $20.69 |
| Missouri | $39,030 | $18.76 |
| Nebraska | $50,150 | $24.11 |
| Kansas | $46,580 | $22.39 |
| Illinois | $45,150 | $21.71 |
| Tennessee | $41,170 | $19.79 |
| Arkansas | $38,180 | $18.36 |
Related jobs in Missouri
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$56,730
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$60,310
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,510
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$59,660
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$56,900
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$61,890
Average pay, Missouri, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do preschool teachers, except special education make in Missouri?
The average is $39,030 a year, and the median is $36,090. That is $4,000 (9%) less than the U.S. average of $43,030.
What is the hourly wage in Missouri?
$18.76 an hour on average; the median is $17.35.
Where in Missouri do they earn the most?
St. Joseph, MO-KS ($44,450), followed by Kansas City, MO-KS ($41,010). The lowest average among 8 metro areas with data is Cape Girardeau, MO-IL ($32,740).
How does Missouri rank?
Missouri ranks #30 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 25-2011. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national preschool teachers, except special education page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.