Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers

Wages & Outlook

Wages

Because kindergarten teachers usually work a ten-month year, their wages are reported annually.

Wages vary based on the teacher's education and years of experience. The wages for preschool teachers are lower than those for kindergarten teachers. This is because kindergarten teachers must have a college education or a license. Preschool teachers, in contrast, need only a high school diploma. Wages also vary by the type of employer and the area of the country.

Benefits also vary. Benefits are often minimal for preschool teachers. However, some employers offer full benefits, such as paid vacation and health insurance, for full-time preschool teachers. Full-time and some part-time kindergarten teachers in public school systems receive these benefits.

View the Regional Wage Comparison Chart for:

• Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
• Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

Employment

In Minnesota, about 6,141 preschool and 2,357 kindergarten teachers work in this medium-sized occupation.

Most kindergarten teachers work in public and private schools. More than half of all preschool teachers work in child day care services.

Major employers:

• Child day care services
• Elementary schools
• Religious organizations

Outlook

Many states are considering making preschool required for four-year-olds. They're also considering making kindergarten be all day long instead of just half day. If states make these changes, the number of jobs for preschool and kindergarten teachers will increase dramatically. This is because the number of children in classes will grow so much. Even if these laws do not pass, the growth for teachers will still be faster than average. More parents are finding that they must work instead of staying home to raise their children. Thus, more children will enter preschool and kindergarten.

Besides the expected job growth, many preschool and kindergarten teachers will leave the occupation or retire. This will result in many more openings each year.