Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education: Career Overview
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
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What Do Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Take On?
Typical responsibilities of preschool teachers, except special education include:
- Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
- 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.
- Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips.
Skills and Knowledge
Top preschool teachers, except special education draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- After School Teacher
- Child Care Assistant Teacher
- Child Development Teacher
- Childcare Teacher
- Childhood Development Teacher
- Day Care Teacher
- Daycare Teacher
- Early Childhood Educator
Employment and Demand
There are about 994,564 preschool teachers, except special education working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +6.4% over the projection horizon.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $63,776 |
| Hourly median | $30.66 |
| 10th percentile | $36,682 |
| 25th percentile | $50,229 |
| 75th percentile | $77,324 |
| 90th percentile | $90,871 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Nebraska | $50,270 |
| New Jersey | $46,570 |
| California | $45,880 |
| New York | $45,580 |
| District of Columbia | $45,090 |
| Massachusetts | $45,030 |
| Hawaii | $44,780 |
| Vermont | $44,760 |
| North Dakota | $43,990 |
| Colorado | $43,890 |
| Washington | $43,350 |
| Kansas | $43,200 |
| Connecticut | $43,160 |
| Virgin Islands | $42,820 |
| Georgia | $42,330 |
| Oregon | $39,360 |
| Minnesota | $38,650 |
| Maryland | $38,560 |
| Oklahoma | $37,970 |
| New Mexico | $37,900 |
| Alaska | $37,820 |
| New Hampshire | $37,500 |
| Virginia | $37,320 |
| Illinois | $37,220 |
| Maine | $37,070 |
| Michigan | $36,720 |
| Louisiana | $36,390 |
| Rhode Island | $36,040 |
| Tennessee | $35,980 |
| Nevada | $35,970 |
| Montana | $35,590 |
| Indiana | $35,320 |
| Arizona | $35,240 |
| Missouri | $35,120 |
| Wisconsin | $34,950 |
| Florida | $34,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,250 |
| Utah | $34,210 |
| Texas | $33,860 |
| South Dakota | $33,350 |
| South Carolina | $33,260 |
| Ohio | $32,760 |
| Delaware | $31,380 |
| North Carolina | $30,980 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,170 |
| Arkansas | $30,050 |
| Kentucky | $29,980 |
| Iowa | $29,790 |
| West Virginia | $29,610 |
| Wyoming | $29,250 |
| Idaho | $28,330 |
| Alabama | $27,630 |
| Mississippi | $26,620 |
| Guam | $21,750 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for preschool teachers, except special education vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $44,405 | 16.4% | 1.00 |
| New England | $43,114 | 6.3% | 1.35 |
| Middle Atlantic | $41,388 | 17.7% | 1.20 |
| Rocky Mountains | $38,364 | 2.8% | 0.76 |
| Plains States | $36,609 | 6.0% | 1.03 |
| Great Lakes | $35,335 | 15.3% | 1.12 |
| Southwest | $34,775 | 10.9% | 0.88 |
| Southeast | $33,933 | 23.9% | 1.05 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $59,110 | 520 |
| Vineland, NJ | NJ | $58,830 | 360 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | TX | $54,780 | 1,050 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | LA | $49,860 | 100 |
| Rome, GA | GA | $49,660 | 60 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | SC | $49,600 | 110 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | NE | $49,260 | 420 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $49,190 | 9,100 |
Top Industries Employing Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Most preschool teachers, except special education are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 332,580 | $36,180 |
| Educational Services | 84,390 | $50,710 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 17,310 | $42,340 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2,370 | $35,710 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 600 | $40,300 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 60 | $39,130 |
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education work in the following industries:
Software Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for preschool teachers, except special education reflects the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Physical Proximity
Getting Started in This Career
Typical preschool teachers, except special education positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- School Psychologists (Supplemental)
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (Primary-Short)
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (Primary-Short)
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Primary-Long)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School (Supplemental)
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring preschool teachers, except special education often complete programs in:
Education
10 programs across 3 majors
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-2011.00 (Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education).
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