What is the best state to be a kindergarten teachers, except special education?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Washington is the best state for a kindergarten teachers, except special education: a BLS median of $99,960 is worth $93,409 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.0), an index of 146.4 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Washington has the highest headline BLS median for a kindergarten teachers, except special education at $99,960, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 50 on real pay (index 146.4). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

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Best States to Be a Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a kindergarten teachers, except special education salary goes furthest in Washington — a $99,960 BLS median worth $93,409 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 146.4).

Which US states are best for a kindergarten teachers, except special education after cost of living and tax?

For a kindergarten teachers, except special education, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Washington #1: a $99,960 BLS median becomes $93,409 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 146.4). Hawaii ranks last ($46,065, index 72.2). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Washington ranks #1 of 50 states for a kindergarten teachers, except special education. Index 100 = the average state; 146.4 means pay goes 46.4% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

146.4

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Washington	$99,960	—	107.0	$93,409	146.4
2	Connecticut	$90,030	$3,377	103.6	$83,634	131.1
3	Rhode Island	$85,470	$2,605	102.3	$81,018	127.0
4	New Mexico	$74,380	$2,382	92.2	$78,079	122.4
5	Ohio	$72,570	$1,213	92.8	$76,915	120.6
6	Massachusetts	$84,100	$3,985	105.8	$75,754	118.8
7	Minnesota	$75,500	$3,645	98.6	$72,860	114.2
8	California	$82,550	$3,555	110.7	$71,346	111.8
9	Delaware	$74,030	$3,545	99.8	$70,621	110.7
10	District of Columbia	$81,500	$4,053	109.9	$70,470	110.5
11	Maryland	$75,910	$3,273	105.0	$69,205	108.5
12	New York	$77,630	$3,665	107.9	$68,537	107.4
13	North Dakota	$59,420	—	89.0	$66,795	104.7
14	Nebraska	$62,200	$2,138	90.1	$66,659	104.5
15	New Jersey	$74,210	$2,552	108.8	$65,859	103.2
16	Wyoming	$60,990	—	92.7	$65,799	103.1
17	Texas	$63,780	—	97.1	$65,714	103.0
18	Georgia	$65,680	$2,893	96.3	$65,204	102.2
19	Nevada	$64,930	—	100.0	$64,944	101.8
20	Kentucky	$60,280	$2,280	90.2	$64,330	100.8
21	Iowa	$58,420	$2,180	87.8	$64,082	100.5
22	Pennsylvania	$64,430	$1,978	97.6	$64,006	100.3
23	West Virginia	$58,790	$1,911	89.5	$63,554	99.6
24	Michigan	$63,300	$2,444	96.2	$63,249	99.2
25	Tennessee	$58,070	—	91.9	$63,209	99.1
26	Vermont	$63,280	$1,795	98.0	$62,767	98.4
27	Idaho	$62,240	$2,424	95.5	$62,638	98.2
28	South Carolina	$60,890	$2,168	93.7	$62,638	98.2
29	Oregon	$68,580	$5,197	103.4	$61,322	96.1
30	Illinois	$64,020	$3,028	100.0	$61,018	95.7
31	Utah	$63,190	$2,875	98.9	$61,008	95.6
32	Wisconsin	$59,350	$1,993	94.1	$60,956	95.6
33	Indiana	$58,250	$1,718	93.3	$60,573	95.0
34	Virginia	$63,920	$2,876	101.1	$60,378	94.6
35	Missouri	$56,590	$1,779	90.8	$60,353	94.6
36	Kansas	$56,670	$2,362	90.1	$60,296	94.5
37	Colorado	$62,870	$2,106	103.1	$58,964	92.4
38	Louisiana	$53,130	$1,219	88.2	$58,851	92.3
39	New Hampshire	$60,240	—	104.2	$57,831	90.7
40	Arkansas	$52,060	$1,822	86.9	$57,787	90.6
41	Florida	$58,100	—	103.4	$56,182	88.1
42	South Dakota	$49,410	—	88.6	$55,776	87.4
43	Alabama	$50,900	$2,280	88.8	$54,738	85.8
44	Mississippi	$48,880	$1,346	87.0	$54,667	85.7
45	North Carolina	$53,180	$1,718	94.3	$54,557	85.5
46	Oklahoma	$47,860	$1,736	87.8	$52,508	82.3
47	Maine	$52,660	$1,940	97.0	$52,262	81.9
48	Arizona	$52,830	$846	100.7	$51,635	80.9
49	Montana	$47,590	$1,670	94.6	$48,519	76.1
50	Hawaii	$53,160	$2,512	110.0	$46,065	72.2

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Washington, a $99,960 salary is worth about $93,409 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $99,960 · BEA cost of living 107.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $112,840, a $19,430 gain over Washington.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$112,840	88.6
2	Arkansas	$110,496	86.9
3	Louisiana	$109,925	88.2
4	Mississippi	$109,900	87.0
5	Iowa	$109,571	87.8
6	North Dakota	$109,557	89.0
7	Tennessee	$108,806	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$108,389	87.8
9	Wyoming	$107,842	92.7
10	Alabama	$106,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$106,436	90.2
12	West Virginia	$106,307	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a kindergarten teachers, except special education?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Washington is the best state for a kindergarten teachers, except special education: a BLS median of $99,960 is worth $93,409 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.0), an index of 146.4 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Washington has the highest headline BLS median for a kindergarten teachers, except special education at $99,960, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 50 on real pay (index 146.4). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a kindergarten teachers, except special education salary go least far?: Hawaii ranks last of 50 states for a kindergarten teachers, except special education: a $53,160 BLS median is worth only $46,065 after tax and cost of living (index 72.2). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a kindergarten teachers, except special education is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.