### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Preschool Teachers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			preschool teachers imagePreschool teachers educate and care for children, younger than the age of 5, who have not yet entered kindergarten.							
						Quick Facts:     Preschool Teachers2023     Median Pay
            						$37,130     per year
										$17.85     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Associate's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    512,300Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    3% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    17,200What Preschool Teachers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Preschool teachers educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Preschool teachers typically work in public and private schools or childcare centers. Many work the traditional 10-month school year, but some work year-round.
            
                                                How to Become a Preschool Teacher
                                                
                        
Education and training requirements vary based on settings and state regulations. Preschool teachers typically need at least an associate’s degree.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for preschool teachers was $37,130 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of preschool teachers is projected to grow							 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 56,300 openings for preschool teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for preschool teachers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of preschool teachers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about preschool teachers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Preschool Teachers Do 
            

			preschool teachers imagePreschool teachers use play to teach children about the world.			
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.
Duties
Preschool teachers typically do the following:
Teach children basic skills such as identifying colors, shapes, numbers, and letters
Work with children in groups or one on one, depending on the needs of children and on the subject matter
Plan and carry out a curriculum that focuses on different areas of child development
Organize activities so children can learn about the world, explore interests, and develop skills
Develop schedules and routines to ensure children have enough physical activity and rest
Watch for signs of emotional or developmental problems in each child and bring them to the attention of the child’s parents
Keep records of the children’s progress, routines, and interests, and inform parents about their child’s developmentYoung children learn from playing, problem solving, and experimenting. Preschool teachers use play and other instructional techniques to teach children. 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.
 Work Environment
			Preschool teachersPreschool teachers usually work in public schools, private schools, and childcare centers that have preschool programs.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Preschool teachers held about 512,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of preschool teachers were as follows:
        Child day care services
                62%Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private
                16Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
                14Individual and family services
                2It may be rewarding to see children develop new skills and gain an appreciation of knowledge and learning. However, it can also be tiring to work with young, active children all day.
Work Schedules
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 and then have a break for 3 weeks before starting a new school session.
Those working in daycare settings may work year-round with longer hours.
 How to Become a Preschool Teacher

			Preschool teachersPreschool teachers must plan lessons that engage young students and must also adapt their lessons to suit different learning styles.			
Education and training requirements vary based on settings and state regulations. Preschool teachers typically need at least an associate’s degree.
Education
Preschool teachers typically need at least an associate’s degree.
Preschool teachers in center-based 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, such as psychology, 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 include instruction on children’s development, teaching young children, and observing and documenting children’s progress.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
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.
Other Experience
A few states require preschool teachers to have some work experience in a childcare setting. In these states, preschool teachers often start out as childcare workers or teacher assistants. The amount of experience needed varies by state.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Preschool teachers need good writing and speaking skills to talk to parents and colleagues about children’s progress. They must also be able to communicate well with small children.
***Creativity.*** Preschool teachers must plan lessons that engage young children. 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 relationships with parents, children, and coworkers.
***Organizational skills.*** Teachers need to be organized to plan lessons and keep records of the children.
***Patience.*** Working with children may be stressful. Preschool teachers should be able to respond calmly to overwhelming and difficult situations.
***Physical stamina.*** Preschool teachers should have a lot of energy, because working with children can be physically demanding.
Advancement
Experienced preschool teachers may advance to become the director of a preschool or childcare center or a lead teacher. 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.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Preschool TeachersMedian annual wages, May 2023Preschool, elementary, middle, secondary, and special education teachers$63,280  Total, all occupations$48,060  Preschool teachers, except special education$37,130Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for preschool teachers was $37,130 in May 2023. 


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 $28,200, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $60,900.





		
	    					 In May 2023, 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
                $52,190Individual and family services
                41,970Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
                39,270Child day care services
                36,030Preschool 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 and 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 year-round and have longer hours.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Preschool TeachersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Preschool teachers, except special education3%  Preschool, elementary, middle, secondary, and special education teachers1%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of preschool teachers is projected to grow				 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 56,300 openings for preschool teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Early childhood education is important for a child’s intellectual and social development. More preschool teachers should be needed to meet the demand for early childhood education.
			

                        Employment projections data for     preschool teachers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Preschool teachers, except special education**
			25-2011
			512,300
			529,600
			3
			17,200
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Preschool teachers, except special education **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of preschool teachers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Childcare Workers**
            Childcare workers attend to children's needs while helping to foster early development.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $30,370**High School Teachers**
            High school teachers teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.
            Bachelor's degree
            $65,220**Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers**
            Kindergarten and elementary school teachers instruct young students in basic subjects in order to prepare them for future schooling.
            Bachelor's degree
            $63,670**Middle School Teachers**
            Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades.
            Bachelor's degree
            $64,290**Preschool and Childcare Center Directors**
            Preschool and childcare center directors supervise and lead their staffs, design program plans, oversee daily activities, and prepare budgets.
            Bachelor's degree
            $54,290**Special Education Teachers**
            Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.
            Bachelor's degree
            $65,910**Teacher Assistants**
            Teacher assistants work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction.
            Some college, no degree
            $35,550
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about early childhood education, visit
National Association for the Education of Young Children
For more information about professional credentials, visit
Council for Professional Recognition

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Preschool Teachers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/preschool-teachers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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