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Early childhood
Preschool Teacher
The most important education years, paid the least.
Typical pay
$28k-$48k
How you get in
CDA credential or associate in early childhood
Outlook
Growing demand; pay remains the core problem
Preschool teachers guide learning and development for children roughly three to five years old. The research on early childhood impact is overwhelming; the compensation does not reflect it anywhere in the country.
A day in the life
- 7:00aOpen the room, set up centers and materials
- 8:00aArrival, breakfast and circle time
- 9:30aLearning centers, small group work
- 11:30aLunch, then nap time — and your planning window
- 2:30pOutdoor play and afternoon activities
- 5:30pPickup, parent conversations, clean and reset
How to get in
Child Development Associate (CDA)
Duration
6-12 months
Cost
$500-$2,500
Credential
CDA credential
- Complete 120 hours of early childhood education coursework
- Accumulate 480 hours of experience working with children
- Assemble the portfolio and pass the CDA exam
- Apply to childcare centers and preschool programs
Associate in early childhood education
Duration
2 years
Cost
$6,000-$20,000
Credential
AAS in early childhood education
- Complete an early childhood program at a community college
- Finish practicum hours in a licensed center
- Qualify for lead teacher roles and Head Start positions
- Credits transfer toward a bachelor's later
Bachelor's into public pre-K
Duration
4 years
Cost
$40,000-$150,000
Credential
Bachelor's plus state early childhood licensure
- Complete a degree in early childhood education
- Get state licensed for pre-K through third grade
- Target public school pre-K programs specifically
- This is the one version of the job that pays on a teacher salary scale
What people love
- · Enter with a CDA in under a year
- · Genuinely formative work
- · Programs hire constantly
- · Path into elementary teaching or center directing
What wears people down
- · Among the lowest pay in all of education
- · Physically demanding — floor level all day
- · Long days, since centers open early and close late
- · Rarely any real benefits at private centers