Education · Career brief

Preschool Teacher

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Preschool Teacher at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$38,140

Lower national median pay

2025 national median. Bottom quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

4.5%

Steady projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

66,700

Exceptional hiring volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Top 10% for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

Associate degree

Usually a two-year-level credential or equivalent route

Associate's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

People-centered

Helping, teaching, or working directly with people matters

Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is opening volume; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if people-centered work appeals to you and you are comfortable with an associate-degree path. Main tradeoff: The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

Before choosing, compare:Elementary School Teacher High School Teacher Mental Health Counselor

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Preschool Teacher with another field Explore rankings in Education Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$38,140

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

4.5%employment growth66,700openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Associate's degree

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

583,200

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Preschool teachers, except special education (25-2011).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

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.
Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and needs, determine their priorities for their children, and suggest ways that they can promote learning and development.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.
Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Assisting and Caring for Others4.2
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.0
Getting Information4.0
Training and Teaching Others3.8
Thinking Creatively3.7

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Social7.0
Artistic4.0
Conventional3.6
Realistic2.9
Investigative2.8
Enterprising2.5

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Public Safety and Security Psychology Sociology and Anthropology

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Tutor the same learner more than once, check what they actually understood, and change the explanation when the first approach fails.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

The tradeoff that matters most

Preschool teaching has many annual openings, but compensation is the central constraint. The national BLS median is well below many other published fields, so pay should be treated as a first-order issue.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Is preschool teaching a good career?

Consider this field if its core work interests you: instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth. Try an introductory project, class, or permitted observation before committing to training. Compare the actual cost and required experience with entry-level work available where you plan to live.

Preschool teacher salary

The national median annual wage in May 2025 was $38,140. This is a benchmark rather than an expected starting salary; actual compensation varies by experience, location, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours.

Is early childhood education worth it?

Check which roles a specific program qualifies you for and compare its total cost with local offers. Ask employers about paid hours, benefits, staffing, and advancement requirements. Experience working with young children can help you judge the work before paying for a credential.

Preschool vs elementary teacher

Consider Preschool Teacher if you want to instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth. Consider Elementary School Teacher if you would rather teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level. Compare a sample task and the qualification requirements for each before choosing between them.

Adjacent options