What is the salary of a pre-primary teacher in India?
Pre-primary teacher salaries in India vary widely by city, school type, qualifications and experience. Small private play schools and budget schools usually pay at the lower end, while established CBSE, ICSE and international schools in metro cities pay considerably more, especially to graduates with early-years training, fluent English and experience. Government pay follows state scales.
What this means in practice
Because pay varies so much, the most reliable way to judge salaries is to compare current job adverts for your city and school type.
What raises pay
- A degree plus early-years training (PG Diploma)
- Fluent spoken English
- Experience and good references
- Working in metro, international or premium schools
- Extra skills: phonics programmes, Montessori, special needs awareness
- Coordinator or management responsibility
How to check current salaries
Look at salary ranges in adverts on Naukri, Indeed and LinkedIn, salary-survey sites, and ask teachers in your network.
Negotiating your first offer
When you receive an offer, ask for the full package in writing: monthly salary, working hours, holidays, any training provided, and whether there is a probation period and annual increment. Compare it with two or three similar adverts in your city. If your training, degree or English is stronger than the advert asks for, you can politely ask whether the school can match the upper end of its range. Building a reputation in one good school for two or three years often leads to faster pay growth than frequent moves.
Practical next steps
- Collect 10 current adverts in your city.
- Note the qualifications and pay offered.
- Plan the training and experience you need for the next band.
Common follow-up questions
Do international schools pay more?
Generally yes, with higher requirements.
Does a PG Diploma increase salary?
It can improve your profile; pay depends on the employer.
Sources
Course facts from APTTI's published course pages, checked 10 October 2026. Editorial policy.