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Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure

What they do

Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.

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.

Lower 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 $38,140 Median per year · $18.34/hr Most earn $28,990–$61,390

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
  • Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
  • Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
  • Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to children.
  • Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
  • Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.

Job outlook

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 66,700 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

  • Child daycare services65.0%
  • Elementary and secondary schools14.2%

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

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

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

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Preschool teaching is an entry-level job that you can reach with a certificate or apprenticeship in early childhood education, rather than a four-year degree. Most people also spend about 6 months to 1 year working with young children first, often as an assistant.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build a base in reading, writing, math, and working with kids, such as through child development or family and consumer science classes. This prepares you for early childhood training.

  2. Early childhood education certificate

    3-12 months

    Complete coursework in child development, learning activities, and classroom safety, which teaches you how to plan lessons for young children. Many programs also include supervised practice with real kids.

  3. Teaching Assistant, Preschool

    6 months to 1 year

    Work alongside a lead teacher to run activities, supervise play, and help children with daily routines. This hands-on time builds the experience employers usually expect before you lead a classroom.

  4. Preschool Teacher

    Ongoing

    Plan and lead lessons that support social, physical, and intellectual growth for preschool-aged children, following a curriculum or lesson plans.

Where it can lead

  1. Kindergarten Teacher

    6 months to 1 year of experience first

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree and a teaching license, and you teach a more structured school-based classroom with bigger focus on early reading and math.

  2. Elementary School Teacher

    1-3 years of experience first

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree and a teaching license, and you teach a full grade-level curriculum across subjects to older students.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take child development or family and consumer science classesThese classes introduce how young children learn and grow, which is the core of preschool teaching.
  • Volunteer with young childrenHelping at a library story hour, a church nursery, or a community center gives you real experience and a potential reference.
  • Babysit or nanny for familiesCaring for kids on your own builds practical skills in planning activities and keeping children safe.
  • Join a student club like FCCLA or a service clubLeadership and community service activities show you can work with others and plan events.
  • Take a first aid and CPR course through school or the Red CrossMany childcare settings expect staff to have these certifications, and they show employers you are prepared.

In college

  • Major in early childhood education or child developmentCoursework in how children learn and how to plan lessons is the most direct way to prepare for this career.
  • Work as a campus or community childcare aideWorking in a campus daycare or after-school program gives you paid experience that counts toward the usual 6 months to 1 year.
  • Earn a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or a state certificateThese credentials show employers you have formal training in early childhood care and teaching.
  • Do a practicum or student teaching placementSupervised classroom time lets you practice lesson planning with a mentor teacher giving feedback.
  • Join an early childhood education student groupGroups like these often host workshops, conferences, and networking events with working teachers.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local preschool or childcare center if you can volunteer or shadow a teacher, so you can see the job up close and collect a reference.
  • Look up your state's requirements for early childhood teachers early, since rules about certificates and background checks vary from place to place.
  • Get comfortable with children of different ages and abilities now, because patience and communication matter as much as any coursework.

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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