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Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $62,680 Median per year Most earn $46,990–$101,830

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.
  • Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.
  • Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate children's progress.
  • Prepare materials, classrooms, and other indoor and outdoor spaces to facilitate creative play, learning and motor-skill activities, and safety.
  • Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
  • Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 11,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Elementary and secondary schools97.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Kindergarten teaching is not an entry-level job you can start straight out of high school. Most people earn a bachelor's degree and a teaching license, and gain some classroom experience first, which usually takes about 5 years in total.

  1. Bachelor's degree in early childhood or elementary education

    4 years

    Study child development, reading instruction, and classroom teaching, and complete student teaching so you learn to run a real classroom. Finish your state's teaching license requirements, since most kindergarten jobs require one.

  2. Teaching Assistant

    6 months to 1 year

    Help a licensed teacher with small groups, reading practice, and classroom routines. This builds the hands-on experience that schools look for, and it can also be done while you finish your degree.

  3. Kindergarten Teacher

    Ongoing

    Teach reading, math, and social skills to five- and six-year-olds, and plan lessons for your own classroom.

Where it can lead

  1. Special Education Teacher, Kindergarten

    1-2 years of experience first

    You would work with young learners who need extra support, which usually requires an added special education license or certification and training in individualized learning plans.

  2. Instructional Coordinator

    Several years of classroom teaching of experience first

    You would help other teachers improve lessons, choose curriculum, and train staff, often needing a master's degree or added school leadership training.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take child development or early childhood classesThese courses show you how young children learn and whether working with them feels right for you.
  • Volunteer with young childrenHelping at a daycare, library story time, or a community center gives you real experience and something to list on applications.
  • Get a job as a camp counselor or babysitterWorking with kids regularly builds patience, planning skills, and a track record of responsibility.
  • Join a leadership or community service clubClubs help you practice speaking in front of groups and working well with others, both useful for teaching.
  • Take strong reading and writing classesKindergarten teachers spend much of their day on early literacy, so solid reading and communication skills matter.

In college

  • Major in early childhood or elementary educationThis major covers the teaching methods, child development, and student teaching that kindergarten jobs require.
  • Apply for a teaching assistant or classroom aide jobWorking in a school while you study gives you the 6 months to 1 year of experience employers often expect.
  • Complete student teaching placementsPractice teaching in a real kindergarten or early grades classroom lets you test your skills and build references.
  • Volunteer at a school or after-school programExtra time with young learners strengthens your résumé and helps you learn different classroom styles.
  • Learn the basics of working with children with diverse needsTaking a course or workshop on inclusive teaching prepares you for the wide range of learners in any kindergarten room.

Tips for getting started

  • Get classroom time early. Volunteering or working with young children shows schools you are ready and helps you decide if this age group suits you.
  • Check your state's teaching license rules now, since requirements differ by state and planning your classes early saves time later.
  • Look at the career page for this job to see typical pay near you and nationally. Pay is worth checking, but it is one part of the picture.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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