Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Preschool teachers educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten.
Is preschool teachers, except special education a good career?
It scores 20/100 and ranks #318 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- High volume of openings — about 65,500 a year
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($38,140 vs $61,390)
What preschool teachers, except special education earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. preschool teachers, except special education earn between $34,530 and $47,550 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live preschool teachers, except special education jobs
No live preschool teachers, except special education openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified preschool teachers, except special education openings will appear here — each shown against the $38,140 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
No placeholder listings · nothing inventedHow to become a preschool teachers, except special education
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow as fast as average through 2034.
Education
Preschool teachers typically need at least an associate’s degree.
Preschool teachers in center-based Head Start programs are required to have at least an associate’s degree. However, at least 50 percent of all preschool teachers in Head Start programs nationwide must have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field. Those with a degree in a related field, such as psychology, must have experience teaching preschool-age children.
In public schools, preschool teachers are generally required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field. Bachelor’s degree programs include instruction on children’s development, teaching young children, and observing and documenting children’s progress.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
In public schools, preschool teachers must be licensed to teach early childhood education, which covers preschool through third grade. Requirements vary by state, but they generally require a bachelor’s degree and passing an exam to demonstrate competency. Most states require teachers to complete continuing education credits in order to maintain their license.
Some states require preschool teachers to obtain a professional credential. Obtaining this credential may require coursework, experience in the field, a written exam, and observation of the candidate working with children.
Advancement
Experienced preschool teachers may advance to become the director of a preschool or childcare center or a lead teacher. Those with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education frequently are qualified to teach kindergarten through grade 3, in addition to preschool. Teaching positions at these higher grades typically pay more.
Important qualities
Communication skills. Preschool teachers need good writing and speaking skills to talk to parents and colleagues about children’s progress. They must also be able to communicate well with small children.
Creativity. Preschool teachers must plan lessons that engage young children. In addition, they need to adapt their lessons to suit different learning styles.
Interpersonal skills. Preschool teachers must understand children’s emotional needs and be able to develop relationships with parents, children, and coworkers.
Organizational skills. Teachers need to be organized to plan lessons and keep records of the children.
Patience. Working with children may be stressful. Preschool teachers should be able to respond calmly to overwhelming and difficult situations.
Physical stamina. Preschool teachers should have a lot of energy, because working with children can be physically demanding.
Related occupations
How much do preschool teachers, except special education make?
The national median wage is $38,140 a year, with the middle half earning between $34,530 and $47,550 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is preschool teachers, except special education a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 20 of 100 and ranks #318 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +4.1% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a preschool teachers, except special education?
The typical entry-level education is associate's degree.
Where do preschool teachers, except special education earn the most?
Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($62,150). Local pay for every state and metro is below.