Education
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
Median salary (BLS)
$38,140
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$29k – $61k
Job outlook
+4% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $85,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Education
Typical entry: Associate degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Entry / Junior
$28,990
~2 yrs to advance
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Established
$38,140
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Senior
$49,765
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Education
Explore all- University of Michigan18% admit · $87,000 grad pay
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill19% admit · $73,000 grad pay
- University of Wisconsin–Madison49% admit · $72,000 grad pay
- Vanderbilt University7% admit · $88,000 grad pay
- University of Virginia19% admit · $85,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.