What is a Kindergarten Teacher?
Job Description & Duties Teach elemental natural and social science, personal hygiene, music, art, and literature to kindergarten students. Promote physical, mental, and social development. May be required to hold State certification.
Kindergarten Teacher Responsibilities
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- Perform administrative duties, such as assisting in school libraries, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
- Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
- Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
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What Every Kindergarten Teacher Should Know
When polled, Kindergarten Teachers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Related Job Titles
- Educator
- Lead Teacher
- Kinder Teacher
- Montessori Teacher
- Physical Education Teacher (PE Teacher)
What Kind of Kindergarten Teacher Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 154,400 jobs for Kindergarten Teacher in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 12,300 new jobs for Kindergarten Teacher by 2026. There will be an estimated 16,700 positions for Kindergarten Teacher per year.

The states with the most job growth for Kindergarten Teacher are Utah, Colorado, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Connecticut, Vermont, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Kindergarten Teacher Salary
The typical yearly salary for Kindergarten Teachers is somewhere between $35,680 and $86,310.

Kindergarten Teachers who work in Connecticut, New York, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Kindergarten Teachers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $44,790 |
Alaska | $62,660 |
Arizona | $44,670 |
Arkansas | $46,180 |
California | $69,690 |
Colorado | $50,020 |
Connecticut | $77,220 |
Delaware | $60,140 |
District of Columbia | $54,940 |
Florida | $50,400 |
Georgia | $54,080 |
Hawaii | $36,170 |
Idaho | $50,790 |
Illinois | $55,660 |
Indiana | $51,290 |
Iowa | $53,200 |
Kansas | $51,230 |
Kentucky | $54,510 |
Louisiana | $50,540 |
Maine | $52,710 |
Maryland | $67,170 |
Massachusetts | $75,510 |
Michigan | $59,140 |
Minnesota | $60,580 |
Mississippi | $43,110 |
Missouri | $51,630 |
Montana | $52,730 |
Nebraska | $59,490 |
Nevada | $56,280 |
New Hampshire | $56,710 |
New Jersey | $67,400 |
New Mexico | $53,780 |
New York | $79,410 |
North Carolina | $46,490 |
North Dakota | $53,440 |
Ohio | $59,750 |
Oklahoma | $40,120 |
Oregon | $72,830 |
Pennsylvania | $62,510 |
Rhode Island | $65,530 |
South Carolina | $52,540 |
South Dakota | $41,900 |
Tennessee | $50,160 |
Texas | $54,780 |
Utah | $48,320 |
Vermont | $59,560 |
Virginia | $65,550 |
Washington | $62,330 |
West Virginia | $47,370 |
Wisconsin | $57,340 |
Wyoming | $57,390 |
What Tools & Technology do Kindergarten Teachers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Kindergarten Teachers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Children’s educational software
How to Become a Kindergarten Teacher
What education or degrees do I need to become a Kindergarten Teacher?

What work experience do I need to become a Kindergarten Teacher?

Who Employs Kindergarten Teachers?

The table below shows the approximate number of Kindergarten Teachers employed by various industries.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Kindergarten Teacher might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as a Kindergarten Teacher sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Vgrigas via Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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