Preschool Teachers vs Kindergarten Teachers
Median pay is about $25k higher for Kindergarten Teachers. The usual entry education is associate's plus cert for Preschool Teachers and bachelor's plus cert for Kindergarten Teachers.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Preschool Teachers | Kindergarten Teachers |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $38,140 | $62,680, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $34,530 | $52,180, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $47,550 | $79,910, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +4.5% Growing fast, higher | -0.3% Declining |
| Openings a year | 66,700 | 11,900 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Associate's plus cert | Bachelor's plus cert |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.8 / 5 | 3.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 50th pct | 48th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Preschool Teachers
- Critical Thinking
Only Kindergarten Teachers
- Writing
Both lean on speaking, active listening, learning strategies, reading comprehension, monitoring.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.