Pay · Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education · North Carolina

Kindergarten teacher salary in North Carolina: $53,180 a year

What kindergarten teachers, except special education earn in North Carolina, from the 2025 federal wage survey: 40th of 50 states and 15% below the U.S. median. Starting pay, the paycheck, the states around it and the jobs next to this one.

North Carolina at a glance

Median pay, the state’s place among the states, and how many people do the work here.

$53,180median a year in North Carolina
#40 of 50 states · −15% vs U.S. $62,680
2,250 employed in North Carolina · 2.1% of all U.S. jobs in the work

Starting pay to top pay in North Carolina

Where most start, the middle, and the best-paid tenth — against the same points for the U.S.

$40,760starting pay (10th)
$53,180median
$63,620top 10% earn over

North Carolina U.S.: $46,990 – $101,830

North Carolina and the states next to it

Neighbouring states on the map, not in the ranking — the move people actually weigh.

Medianvs North Carolina
North Carolina $53,180 #40
United States $62,680 —
Georgia $65,680 +$12,500
Virginia $63,920 +$10,740
South Carolina $60,890 +$7,710
Tennessee $58,070 +$4,890

The median paycheck in North Carolina

$53,180 a year before tax. Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take $8,270 of it (15.6%) at 2026 rates.

  • A month $3,743 $4,432 before tax
  • Every two weeks $1,727 $2,045 before tax
  • A week $864 $1,023 before tax
  • A year $44,910 $53,180 before tax
  • Take-home $44,910
  • Federal income tax $4,202
  • Social Security $3,297
  • Medicare $771

A single filer taking the standard deduction, before state and local income taxes and before deductions such as retirement or health insurance. Some public employees, many teachers among them, pay into a state pension instead of Social Security. Rates: IRS, Rev. Proc. 2025-32: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments, SSA, 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment Fact Sheet.

Examples

Resumes written for this line of work.

Real sheets, filled in end to end — for this job and the ones beside it.

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Kindergarten teacher pay in North Carolina: questions people ask

What is the average kindergarten teacher salary in North Carolina?

The median is $53,180 a year: half of the 2,250 kindergarten teachers, except special education in North Carolina earn more, half less. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $40,760, the best-paid tenth over $63,620.

What is the starting salary for kindergarten teachers, except special education in North Carolina?

Most start around $40,760 a year — the pay of the lowest-paid tenth.

What rank is North Carolina for kindergarten teacher pay?

40th of 50 states. Washington pays the most, $99,960.

Do kindergarten teachers, except special education earn more in North Carolina or Georgia?

North Carolina: $53,180 against $65,680 in Georgia — $12,500 less a year.

How much is a kindergarten teacher paycheck in North Carolina?

At the median, about $3,743 a month after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, from $4,432 before tax — for a single filer, before state income tax.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025, state estimates. bls.gov/oes “BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.”