Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Preschool Teachers
Preschool Teachers instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
Table of contents
What they do
Preschool Teachers instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs and interests.
- Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
- Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines.
- Attend to children’s basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, and changing their diapers.
- Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children’s progress and needs, determine their priorities for their children, and suggest ways that they can promote learning and development.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Preschool Teachers plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate. They enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.
A typical day for a Preschool Teacher will also include:
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines.
- Assimilate arriving children to the school environment by greeting them, helping them remove outerwear, and selecting activities of interest to them.
- Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Preschool Teachers also attend staff meetings and serve on committees as required. They may also select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Preschool Teachers collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of preschool programs. They might also attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
In addition, they prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them meet with other professionals to discuss individual students’ needs and progress.
To some Preschool Teachers, it is also their responsibility to confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
61% said they were satisfied with their job and 73% said they found their job meaningful.
In any childcare program, an educator has a schedule and a program that they need to adhere to. However, anyone who has worked in childcare knows that really, it’s more of a child-led environment. One has to be able to go with the flow, as much as they’re able to keep order.
We start the mornings with a healthy snack, followed by a teacher-directed art or sensory activity. Then we try to play outside as much as we can!
Back inside for lunch and nap, then wake-up time and another snack.
We end the day outside as parents come to pick their children up.
And in between all of that, there’s crying and tantrums and laughing and tickles and bo-bo’s and “No Thank You”’s and “Yes Please”es. There are diaper changes and teething rings, there’s programming and sanitizing and cleaning and caring… There are a million and one things to do in a day, but with the right team and a positive attitude, as well as a fierce desire to love and care for these babies, the days go by in a flash 😉
Cons
As with any job, there are pros and cons to working in childcare. Often the cons are having to overextend oneself in order to provide a full and enriching program for the children. Any teacher can admit that they take their work home with them sometimes. Having to program after work hours because there is just never enough time in a day. But that comes with the territory. That comes with being a caring and dedicated educator. Someone who loves their job despite the difficulties.
Pros
And the pros are so rewarding. Having a child connect with you. Trust you. Look to you for solace when they are feeling lost and overwhelmed in a strange new environment. It warms your heart. Helping to teach these little beings how to function in the world, and watching them grow and flourish, it’s a feeling that can barely be described. I’ve heard countless times that it takes a special kind of person to be a teacher. And it’s true, it does.
Pros
Suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Short working hours (Less than 40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to follow routines.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Preschool Teachers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $21,900 to $26,220 per year or $11 to $13 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $58,230 | $28 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $42,350 | $20 |
| Median | $31,930 | $15 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $26,220 | $13 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $21,900 | $11 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Preschool Teachers based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $50520 | $24.29 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | $47080 | $22.64 |
| Junior Colleges | $45910 | $22.07 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $41420 | $19.91 |
| Religious Organizations | $39770 | $19.12 |
| Educational Support Services | $39300 | $18.90 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $38680 | $18.60 |
| Local Government | $38450 | $18.48 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $37320 | $17.94 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $37160 | $17.86 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Preschool Teachers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Preschool Teachers including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Day Care Services | 248180 | $32190 | $15.48 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 72630 | $50520 | $24.29 |
| Individual and Family Services | 11980 | $36860 | $17.72 |
| Local Government | 8490 | $38450 | $18.48 |
| Religious Organizations | 8000 | $39770 | $19.12 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | 4940 | $35450 | $17.04 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 2830 | $41420 | $19.91 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | 2370 | $38680 | $18.60 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | 1930 | $37160 | $17.86 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 1300 | $35210 | $16.93 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Preschool Teachers typically need at least a Bachelor’s Degree but some Head Start programs may only require an Associate’s Degree. Almost all preschools require Preschool Teachers to have a degree or certification in Early Childhood Education (ECE). Some states require Preschool Teachers to obtain certificates in teaching, CPR, and first aid.
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Child Care and Support Services Management
Child Development
Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language
Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
International Teaching and Learning
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching
Waldorf/Steiner Teacher Education
Montessori Teacher Education
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
Bilingual and Multilingual Education
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
They also like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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