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Preschool Teacher

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What You Need to Know About Preschool Teacher

Occupation Description Instruct preschool-aged children in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth needed for primary school in preschool, day care center, or other child development facility. May be required to hold State certification.

Life As a Preschool Teacher: What Do They Do?

  • Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
  • Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
  • Attend staff meetings and serve on committees as required.
  • Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guests, or other experiential activities and guide students in learning from those activities.
  • Administer tests to help determine children’s developmental levels, needs, and potential.
  • Teach proper eating habits and personal hygiene.

Preschool Teacher Needed Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Preschool Teachers say are important on the job.

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

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.

Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Preschool Teacher

  • Kindergarten Teacher
  • Preschool Teacher
  • Teacher Aide
  • Toddler Guide
  • Day Care Teacher

Job Outlook for Preschool Teachers

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 478,500 jobs in the United States for Preschool Teacher. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 50,100 new jobs for Preschool Teacher by 2026. There will be an estimated 53,600 positions for Preschool Teacher per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Preschool Teacher are Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Wyoming, or Rhode Island. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Preschool Teacher

Preschool Teachers make between $20,610 and $55,350 a year.

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Preschool Teachers who work in New York, Hawaii, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Preschool Teachers in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $24,800
Alaska $36,210
Arizona $31,010
Arkansas $33,150
California $37,850
Colorado $33,140
Connecticut $43,350
Delaware $28,910
District of Columbia $42,060
Florida $27,990
Georgia $30,910
Hawaii $39,560
Idaho $26,000
Illinois $31,500
Indiana $27,250
Iowa $27,030
Kansas $31,560
Kentucky $33,650
Louisiana $32,290
Maine $35,560
Maryland $38,440
Massachusetts $39,180
Michigan $35,010
Minnesota $37,500
Mississippi $27,940
Missouri $30,440
Montana $31,160
Nebraska $37,980
Nevada $32,540
New Hampshire $30,860
New Jersey $40,880
New Mexico $34,100
New York $48,630
North Carolina $28,260
North Dakota $28,220
Ohio $29,020
Oklahoma $29,310
Oregon $30,400
Pennsylvania $29,250
Rhode Island $32,400
South Carolina $28,940
South Dakota $30,860
Tennessee $32,630
Texas $34,960
Utah $29,700
Vermont $34,290
Virginia $37,880
Washington $32,960
West Virginia $32,560
Wisconsin $26,550
Wyoming $32,610

Tools & Technologies Used by Preschool Teachers

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Preschool Teachers:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Data entry software
  • Email software
  • Children’s educational software

How do I Become a Preschool Teacher?

Education needed to be a Preschool Teacher:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where Preschool Teachers Are Employed

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Below are examples of industries where Preschool Teachers work:

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Career changers with experience as a Preschool 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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