Secondary School Teacher
Median wage · national
$72,040
Range: $60K – $93K
Employed
1.1M
Openings/yr
64K
Typically: bachelor's degree
Preschool Teacher
Preschool Teacher earn $38,140 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $34,530 and $47,550. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Preschool Teacher
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a preschool teacher: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Teacher Education (K-12) and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
- Median Wage
- $38,140
- Employed Nationally
- 479K
- Openings / Year
- 66,700
- Entry Education
- Associate's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
After School Teacher
Child Care Assistant Teacher
Child Development Teacher
Childcare Teacher
Childhood Development Teacher
How Much Do Preschool Teachers Make?
Most preschool teachers take home around $38,140 a year, well below what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $34,530 and $47,550, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Think carefully about how much debt is worth taking on for it. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$38,140
National Median (Annual)
Significantly below average. Specialized roles can raise this considerably.
$35K–$48K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$34,530
Entry-level
$38,140
Median
$47,550
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $43,030, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Preschool Teachers Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Speaking
Instructing
Active Listening
Learning Strategies
Reading Comprehension
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Preschool Teachers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Preschool Teachers?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +4.5%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 66,700 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +4.5%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
About as fast as average.
66,700
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
479K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Preschool Teacher professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $38,140 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 55,700 | $47,400 | +24.3% |
| 2 | Texas | 41,200 | $33,860 | -11.2% |
| 3 | Florida | 35,740 | $35,860 | -6.0% |
| 4 | New York | 23,870 | $46,520 | +22.0% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 22,760 | $36,050 | -5.5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a associate's degree. The 4 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Human Development program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Associate's degree
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teacher Education (K-12) | 106,652 | $47,382 | 1,894 |
| 2 | Human Development | 40,263 | $48,568 | 1,057 |
| 3 | Teaching ESL | 5,030 | $42,259 | 446 |
| 4 | Bilingual Education | 1,654 | $55,140 | 176 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Preschool Teachers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 3 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 5 | Rice University Houston, TX | 91 | $13,370 | $89,718 |
| 6 | North Florida College Madison, FL | 91 | $804 | $33,929 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Preschool Teacher, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Preschool Teacher pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Preschool Teacher Pros & Cons
The data on Preschool Teacher shows 4 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +4.5% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- Wide job market 479K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
- Strong annual demand 66,700 job openings per year creates consistent hiring volume even in slower economic cycles. Entry-level candidates have real options throughout the year.
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a associate's degree, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- Below-average earnings Median pay of $38,140 falls below the national average for college graduates. ROI is weak at higher-cost programs. Prioritize schools with low net price.
Preschool Teacher Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Preschool Teacher professionals earn?
Around $38,140 a year for the typical worker, below the national median, program ROI depends heavily on keeping tuition costs low. The middle 50% of earners fall between $34,530 and $47,550. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Preschool Teacher a good career?
Preschool Teacher involves trade-offs worth understanding before committing. At $38,140 median, programs with high tuition are difficult to justify on salary return alone. Prioritize in-state public schools or employer-sponsored pathways. Job growth is projected at +4.5% through 2035. Genuine interest in the work, not just the salary, matters most here.
How do I become a Preschool Teacher?
Most Preschool Teacher positions require a associate's degree as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Teacher Education (K-12) are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Preschool Teacher?
Employment is projected to change by +4.5% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 66,700 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 479K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Preschool Teacher professionals need?
Mainly Speaking, Instructing, Active Listening, Learning Strategies, and Reading Comprehension. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
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- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
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- Career outcomes
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