What Do Preschool Teacher Do?
Example of Preschool Teacher Job 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.
Preschool Teacher Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- Administer tests to help determine children’s developmental levels, needs, and potential.
- Observe and evaluate children’s performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Attend to children’s basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, and changing their diapers.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.
- Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.
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Preschool Teacher Skills
These are the skills Preschool Teachers say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Daycare Teacher
- Home Visitor - Home Base Head Start
- Bilingual Instructor
- Childcare Provider
- Childcare Teacher
Is There Going to be Demand for Preschool Teachers?
There were about 478,500 jobs for Preschool Teacher in 2016 (in the United States). 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. The BLS estimates 53,600 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
Preschool Teacher Salary
The salary for Preschool Teachers ranges between about $20,610 and $55,350 a year.

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 |
What Tools do Preschool Teachers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Preschool Teachers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Children’s educational software
How do I Become a Preschool Teacher?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Preschool Teacher?

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

Preschool Teachers Sector

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

Similar Careers
Are you already one of the many Preschool Teacher in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Vgrigas via Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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