Prevailing Wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
The prevailing wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education is set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your offer is titled Early Childhood Teacher, Child Development Teacher, or Group Teacher, the floor varies by worksite city and across four experience levels, from entry to fully competent.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level preschool teachers with limited classroom experience, typically new graduates or those transitioning into early childhood education. Expect minimal independent lesson planning and close supervision from lead teachers or program directors.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for preschool teachers. It covers candidates with some prior classroom experience who can manage a group independently, develop basic lesson plans, and implement established curricula without constant oversight.
Level 3 applies to experienced early childhood teachers who mentor junior staff, adapt curricula for diverse developmental needs, and regularly exercise independent professional judgment. Several years of classroom experience are typical at this level.
Level 4 covers fully competent lead teachers or program specialists who design curricula, supervise other classroom teachers, and serve as subject-matter resources. This level reflects extensive experience and a senior scope of responsibility.
Prevailing Wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for Title Aliasing Between SOC Codes
Roles posted as Infant Teacher or Toddler Teacher are sometimes filed under childcare worker SOC codes rather than SOC 25-2011, which carries a lower prevailing wage floor. Confirm your LCA lists SOC 25-2011 before accepting an offer.
Account for the Public School Wage Gap
Preschool teachers at public school districts often earn significantly more than those at private childcare centers, even in the same metro. If your offer is from a private program in a city like Hattiesburg or Auburn, compare against the location-specific L2 floor, not the national median.
Target High-Wage Metros in California and New Jersey
Metros like San Jose, Vineland, and Merced show prevailing wages for preschool teachers substantially above the national median. Candidates open to relocation can improve offer strength by prioritizing roles in these regions over lower-cost markets.
Use Migrate Mate to Find Sponsors With Early Education History
Preschool teacher sponsorship is concentrated among school districts, nonprofit child development programs, and Head Start operators. Migrate Mate shows which specific employers have sponsored this occupation before, so you can focus applications on organizations with a proven filing record.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 25-2011.00 alongside Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Child Development Teacher Prevailing Wage
Child Development Teacher Prevailing Wage
Child Development Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-2011.00 (Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Early Childhood Teacher Prevailing Wage
Early Childhood Teacher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Early Childhood Teacher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2011.00 (Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Group Teacher Prevailing Wage
Group Teacher Prevailing Wage
Group Teacher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2011.00 (Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Infant Teacher Prevailing Wage
Infant Teacher Prevailing Wage
Infant Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-2011.00 (Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Montessori Preschool Teacher Prevailing Wage
Montessori Preschool Teacher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Montessori Preschool Teacher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2011.00 (Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Nursery Teacher Prevailing Wage
Nursery Teacher Prevailing Wage
Nursery Teacher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2011.00 (Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher (Pre-K Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher (Pre-K Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher (Pre-K Teacher) positions fall under SOC 25-2011.00 (Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Teacher Prevailing Wage
Teacher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Teacher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2011.00 (Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Toddler Teacher Prevailing Wage
Toddler Teacher Prevailing Wage
Toddler Teacher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2011.00 (Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the DOL set the prevailing wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education?
The DOL sets prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 25-2011, the OFLC maps survey wages to four experience levels and publishes them by metropolitan area and nonmetropolitan region. Employers sponsoring a preschool teacher on an H-1B or for a green card must pay at least the wage level that matches the position's actual duties and experience requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my job offer?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and responsibility. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision. Level 2 covers independent classroom management and is the most common filing level for preschool teachers. Level 3 applies to experienced teachers who mentor others or adapt curricula independently. Level 4 covers lead or senior roles with curriculum design and supervisory duties. Your level should match the actual duties in your job description, not simply your years of experience. If your offer is for a standard classroom role with independent teaching duties, Level 2 is the typical starting point.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same preschool teacher role vary so much from city to city?
The DOL requires employers to pay the prevailing wage for the worksite listed on the Labor Condition Application, not the employer's headquarters. Each metro's wage is derived from local OES surveys, which capture actual wages paid in that labor market. San Jose and Vineland reflect high regional costs and concentrated demand for credentialed early childhood educators. Markets like Hattiesburg or Guam have lower survey wages, producing a lower floor. The worksite address on the LCA is binding, so a California-based nonprofit operating a program in a lower-wage state must use that state's local rate.
What happens if a sponsored preschool teacher's offered salary is below the prevailing wage?
An employer filing an LCA with a wage below the applicable prevailing wage for SOC 25-2011 risks OFLC denial of the LCA, which blocks the H-1B petition entirely. USCIS also reviews wage compliance during adjudication. If a deficiency is discovered after approval, the employer can face back-wage liability and debarment from future filings. The prevailing wage is a legal floor, not a starting point for negotiation. Candidates should confirm the offered wage meets or exceeds the correct level for their worksite before signing an offer.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a preschool teacher position in a specific U.S. city?
The most direct method is the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up wages by SOC code, wage level, and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 25-2011, select the metro where the job is located, and review all four levels. Cross-check against your offer letter to confirm the wage level matches your actual duties. For finding employers who have historically sponsored preschool teachers and early childhood educators, Migrate Mate lets you filter by occupation and visa type to see which organizations have an active sponsorship record.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education right now.
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