Do you enjoy being around young children? Are you a patient person and a natural leader? Read on to learn how much preschool teachers earn and what factors affect their wages.
Job Description
As a preschool teacher, you'll help educate and watch over children who are 3-5 years old. You'll be expected to interact with an entire classroom at one time, but when necessary, you'll give individual attention to each student.
Your end goal is to prepare your students to enter kindergarten. To do this, you need to create appropriate curricula that will help the students grow intellectually and socially. Along with social and emotional development, you'll also work to help them refine their motor skills and speech. Other topics you might cover include science, social studies, creative arts and reading. You'll be the first school-affiliated representative to go over these topics with students, so you'll provide a crucial role in their development.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisOccupation">Important Facts About This Occupation</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td>Required Education</td><td> High school diploma, postsecondary education may be preferred (in childcare centers); associate's or bachelor's degree required depending on program (for Head Start)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Licensure</td><td> Must be licensed to teach at a public school</td></tr>
<tr><td>Professional Certification</td><td> Some states require Child Development Associate certification (Council for Professional Recognition) or Child Care Professional certification (National Early Childhood Program Accreditation)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Key Skills</td><td> Organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills; creativity, physical stamina, and patience</td></tr>
<tr><td>Similar Occupations</td><td> Childcare worker, kindergarten teacher, teacher assistant, preschool director</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---SalaryInformation">Salary Information</h3><p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), preschool teachers (except special education teachers) earned a mean annual income of $36,460 as of May 2021 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). The BLS reported that the top ten percent of preschool teachers made $58,530 or more each year, while the bottom ten percent of earners took in $22,840 or less annually.
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryByIndustry">Salary by Industry</h3><p>The industry that employed the greatest number of preschool teachers was day care services, which had an annual mean wage of $32,020 in May 2021, according to the BLS. Average annual wages for other popular employers included $52,420 for elementary and secondary schools, $37,750 for individual and family services and $37,560 for religious organizations.
</p><p>Business schools and computer and management training were the top-paying industry for preschool teachers at $52,820, while elementary and secondary schools came in second. Business schools and computer and management training employed only 40 preschool teachers, but this industry had a high average wage. Junior colleges paid $51,200 on average.
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryByLocation">Salary by Location</h3><p>According to May 2021 BLS salary figures, states paying the highest average wages included the District of Columbia ($55,960), New Jersey ($44,810), New York ($43,880), Massachusetts ($43,710), and California ($42,210). The lowest-paid preschool teachers in the country made average salaries of $25,180-$31,470, and they worked in states that included Alabama, Idaho, Wyoming, North Carolina, Florida, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
</p><p>California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and New York had high preschool teacher employment levels in May 2021. Average wages were $42,210 in California, $36,760 in Texas, $29,890 in Florida, and $35,840 in Illinois.
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryByCredential">Salary by Credential</h3><p>February 2023 salary data from <i>PayScale.com</i> showed that preschool teacher wages varied by certification and degree level. While those with an associate's degree in early childhood education earned a median hourly wage of $14.26, teachers with a bachelor's degree made a median wage of $16 an hour. Those with teacher certification made a median wage of $20.13 an hour. Those with the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential made $13.05 an hour.
</p><h3 id="section---JobOutlook">Job Outlook</h3><p>The BLS reported that preschool teaching positions were expected to grow 15% from 2021-2031. An increase in preschool-aged children was anticipated to contribute to this faster-than-average growth of jobs over the 10-year period. A bachelor's degree may lead to better job prospects, according to the BLS, and having certification can also be beneficial.</p>
