Preschool Teacher Duties & Salary
Kindergarten is often the official beginning of a child’s public school education. Many parents, however, give their little ones a head start on learning by sending them to preschool. In this beginning environment, preschool teachers stay with the same students throughout the day and impart lessons ranging from art to keeping clean.
Preschool teachers take care of children who are typically aged five and under, introducing them to lessons about learning and life. These instructors cover such topics as reading, writing and art, either in groups or individually. They also maintain routines of activity, rest and play so students can develop socially. If any of the children show learning or developmental problems, teachers inform parents. They also keep records of student progress so they can gauge their interests and progress. Preschool teachers normally work during school hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through a school year that generally lasts 10 months
States and employers have different regulations for preschool teachers. Some locations, such as childcare centers, accept preschool teachers who have only a high-school diploma. However, most employers prefer those with some training in early childhood education. Courses in early childhood education are available in community colleges and can last up to two years for an associate's degree. The associate's degree is a required minimum for teachers working in Head Start programs administered by the federal government for underprivileged kids. Many employers running the Head Start programs, as well as those who run pre-schools in public schools, prefer teachers with bachelor’s degrees.
Certification from national organizations can enhance job prospects because it documents skills that meet objective standards. Examples of such credentials include the Child Development Associate offered by the Council for Professional Recognition and the Child Care Professional from National Early Childhood Program Accreditation. Certification requirements differ slightly but usually demand at least a high-school diploma, job experience and some post-secondary coursework. Maintaining the credential may mandate continuing education in the field.
As of May 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), preschool teachers earned a mean $30,750 per year. The lowest-paid 10 percent received under $18,090 yearly, while the highest-paid 10 percent made over an annual $48,660. With over two-thirds of the available preschool teaching jobs, child day care services were the biggest employers offering annual pay of $26,610.
The BLS expects jobs for preschool teachers to increase by 25 percent from 2010 to 2020, with child day care services showing 30 percent growth, and religious, grant-making, civic and professional organizations having 17 percent increases. Population growth will be behind the demand because more people means more children. The best jobs will go to those with bachelor’s degrees.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: What Preschool Teachers Do
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Work Environment for Preschool Teachers
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: How to Become a Preschool Teacher
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Wages for Preschool Teachers
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Job Outlook for Preschool Teachers
- Council for Professional Recorgnition: Child Development Associate Credential - Step 1
- National Early Childhood Program Accreditation: CCP Course Overview
Aurelio Locsin has been writing professionally since 1982. He published his first book in 1996 and is a frequent contributor to many online publications, specializing in consumer, business and technical topics. Locsin holds a Bachelor of Arts in scientific and technical communications from the University of Washington.