SOC: 25-2011 OOH: U131
Preschool Teachers Quick Stats |
|
Total Jobs in 2016 | 478,500 |
Expected Growth | 10% (Faster than average) |
New Jobs To Be Added from 2016 to 2026 |
50,100 |
Median Pay | $25,000 to $34,999 |
Employment of preschool teachers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations.
Early childhood education is important for a child’s short- and long-term intellectual and social development. More preschool teachers should be needed as a result of the increasing demand for early childhood education.
In addition, the number of preschool-aged children is expected to increase; however, their share of the overall population should remain constant.
Workers with previous experience working with preschool-aged children may have better opportunities finding a job.
The median annual wage for preschool teachers was $28,790 in May 2016. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,430, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $54,310.
In May 2016, the median annual wages for preschool teachers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private | $45,230 |
Individual and family services | 31,060 |
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 29,950 |
Child day care services | 26,520 |
Preschool teachers in public schools generally work during school hours. Many work the traditional 10-month school year and a 2-month break during the summer. Some preschool teachers may teach in summer programs.
Teachers in districts with a year-round schedule typically work 8 weeks in a row then have a break for 1 week before starting a new school session. They also have a 5-week midwinter break.
Those working in daycare settings may work longer hours and often work year-round.
Preschool teachers educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten. They teach language, motor, and social skills to young children.
Preschool teachers typically do the following:
Young children learn from playing, problem solving, questioning, and experimenting. Preschool teachers use play and other instructional techniques to teach children about the world. For example, they use storytelling and rhyming games to teach language and vocabulary. They may help improve children’s social skills by having them work together to build a neighborhood in a sandbox or teach math by having children count when building with blocks.
Preschool teachers work with children from different ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. Teachers include topics in their lessons that teach children how to respect people of different backgrounds and cultures.
Preschool teachers held about 478,500 jobs in 2016. The largest employers of preschool teachers were as follows:
Child day care services | 57% |
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 18 |
Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private | 17 |
Individual and family services | 3 |
Seeing children develop new skills and gain an appreciation of knowledge and learning can be very rewarding. However, it can also be tiring to work with young, active children all day.
Preschool teachers in public schools generally work during school hours. Many work the traditional 10-month school year and have a 2-month break during the summer. Some preschool teachers may teach in summer programs.
Teachers in districts with a year-round schedule typically work 9 weeks in a row then have a break for 3 weeks before starting a new school session.
Those working in daycare settings may work longer hours and often work year-round.
Education and training requirements vary based on settings and state regulations. They typically need at least an associate’s degree.
Preschool teachers typically need at least an associate’s degree.
Preschool teachers in Head Start programs are required to have at least an associate’s degree. However, at least 50 percent of all preschool teachers in Head Start programs nationwide must have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field. Those with a degree in a related field must have experience teaching preschool-age children.
In public schools, preschool teachers are generally required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field. Bachelor’s degree programs teach students about children’s development, provide strategies to teach young children, and explain how to observe and document children’s progress.
Some states require preschool teachers to obtain the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential offered by the Council for Professional Recognition. Obtaining the CDA credential requires coursework, experience in the field, a written exam, and observation of the candidate working with children. The CDA credential must be renewed every 3 years.
In public schools, preschool teachers must be licensed to teach early childhood education, which covers preschool through third grade. Requirements vary by state, but they generally require a bachelor’s degree and passing an exam to demonstrate competency. Most states require teachers to complete continuing education credits in order to maintain their license.
A few states require preschool teachers to have some work experience in a childcare setting. The amount of experience necessary varies by state. In these cases, preschool teachers often start out as childcare workers or teacher assistants.
Communication skills. Preschool teachers need good communication skills to talk to parents and colleagues about students’ progress. They need good writing and speaking skills to convey this information effectively. They must also be able to communicate well with small children.
Creativity. Preschool teachers must plan lessons that engage young students. In addition, they need to adapt their lessons to suit different learning styles.
Interpersonal skills. Preschool teachers must understand children’s emotional needs and be able to develop good relationships with parents, children, and coworkers.
Organizational skills. Teachers need to be organized to plan lessons and keep records of their students.
Patience. Working with children can be stressful, and preschool teachers should be able to respond calmly to overwhelming and difficult situations.
Physical stamina. Working with children can be physically demanding, so preschool teachers should have a lot of energy.
Experienced preschool teachers can advance to become the director of a preschool or childcare center or a lead teacher, who may be responsible for the instruction of several classes. Those with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education frequently are qualified to teach kindergarten through grade 3, in addition to preschool. Teaching positions at these higher grades typically pay more. For more information, see the profiles on preschool and childcare center directors and kindergarten and elementary school teachers.
"Preschool Teachers" SOC: 25-2011 OOH Code: U131