Best degree programs for Preschool Teachers, ranked by enrollment
10 college programs and 1,483 schools train Preschool Teachers. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $38,140 median wage, 478,780 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
10 college programs at 1,483 schools train preschool teachers, graduating 59,745 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Early Childhood Education and Teaching. The job pays a median of $38,140 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About preschool teachers
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
In early childhood education, a preschool teacher is an educator who works with children younger than 5 years old. Some provide a 10-month school year program, while others provide a full year.
Read more on Wikipedia →Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
10 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Childhood Education and Teachingmain feeder CIP 13.1210 | 33,622 | 56.3% | 910 | $41,127 | $25,500 |
| 2 | Teacher Education, Multiple Levelsmain feeder CIP 13.1206 | 9,066 | 15.2% | 279 | $41,127 | $25,500 |
| 3 | CIP 13.1401 | 5,419 | 9.1% | 325 | $36,305 | $26,250 |
| 4 | CIP 19.0706 | 4,749 | 7.9% | 224 | $31,642 | $23,092 |
| 5 | CIP 19.0708 | 4,048 | 6.8% | 236 | $31,642 | $23,092 |
| 6 | CIP 13.1209 | 1,689 | 2.8% | 113 | $41,127 | $25,500 |
| 7 | Bilingual and Multilingual Educationmain feeder CIP 13.0201 | 797 | 1.3% | 83 | $56,738 | $19,664 |
| 8 | Montessori Teacher Educationmain feeder CIP 13.1207 | 282 | 0.5% | 16 | $41,127 | $25,500 |
| 9 | CIP 13.1499 | 39 | 0.1% | 8 | $36,305 | $26,250 |
| 10 | International Teaching and Learningmain feeder CIP 13.1212 | 34 | 0.1% | 1 | $41,127 | $25,500 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What preschool teachers earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $47,400 | 55,700 | 0.99× | 94 | 5,696 |
| Texas | $33,860 | 41,200 | 0.95× | 88 | 4,689 |
| Washington | $45,660 | 13,210 | 1.21× | 43 | 4,350 |
| North Carolina | $35,710 | 18,370 | 1.21× | 78 | 3,839 |
| New York | $46,520 | 23,870 | 0.80× | 72 | 2,879 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,050 | 22,760 | 1.22× | 85 | 2,755 |
| Arizona | $36,300 | 9,400 | 0.94× | 30 | 2,572 |
| Minnesota | $43,430 | 10,320 | 1.14× | 40 | 2,290 |
| Georgia | $43,920 | 16,850 | 1.12× | 39 | 2,063 |
| Illinois | $40,910 | 22,420 | 1.19× | 42 | 1,991 |
| Colorado | $45,500 | 5,210 | 0.59× | 27 | 1,695 |
| Ohio | $35,180 | 19,840 | 1.16× | 61 | 1,602 |
| Indiana | $36,650 | 7,110 | 0.72× | 27 | 1,462 |
| Florida | $35,860 | 35,740 | 1.17× | 51 | 1,356 |
| Arkansas | $34,190 | 3,270 | 0.81× | 33 | 1,310 |
| Massachusetts | $45,890 | 18,710 | 1.67× | 42 | 1,302 |
| Michigan | $37,110 | 10,950 | 0.81× | 45 | 1,281 |
| Oregon | $45,140 | 6,300 | 1.04× | 22 | 1,272 |
| Alabama | $28,310 | 7,910 | 1.22× | 37 | 1,228 |
| Tennessee | $34,280 | 5,420 | 0.54× | 31 | 1,051 |
| Connecticut | $45,740 | 5,230 | 1.00× | 12 | 953 |
| Missouri | $36,090 | 5,580 | 0.62× | 34 | 947 |
| Wisconsin | $36,160 | 11,330 | 1.25× | 36 | 929 |
| Oklahoma | $31,790 | 7,010 | 1.33× | 37 | 901 |
| New Mexico | $44,070 | 2,490 | 0.93× | 23 | 810 |
| Utah | $35,010 | 3,670 | 0.69× | 9 | 799 |
| New Jersey | $48,220 | 16,190 | 1.23× | 19 | 790 |
| South Carolina | $34,500 | 4,550 | 0.64× | 43 | 681 |
| Virginia | $37,140 | 13,570 | 1.07× | 20 | 679 |
| Maryland | $44,600 | 8,020 | 0.94× | 25 | 661 |
| Idaho | $32,800 | 1,010 | 0.38× | 9 | 607 |
| Nevada | $38,870 | 2,360 | 0.49× | 6 | 469 |
| Nebraska | $47,040 | 1,630 | 0.52× | 17 | 460 |
| Kentucky | $29,780 | 8,520 | 1.38× | 12 | 399 |
| New Hampshire | $39,350 | 2,220 | 1.06× | 14 | 257 |
| Iowa | $33,830 | 5,910 | 1.23× | 23 | 241 |
| Maine | $43,890 | 1,110 | 0.56× | 11 | 233 |
| Louisiana | $38,020 | 3,570 | 0.60× | 13 | 200 |
| Mississippi | $36,250 | 3,600 | 1.00× | 11 | 200 |
| Hawaii | $48,780 | 1,410 | 0.73× | 8 | 157 |
| Kansas | $47,750 | 1,330 | 0.30× | 18 | 156 |
| Rhode Island | $36,830 | 1,890 | 1.22× | 5 | 153 |
| Vermont | $49,730 | 940 | 1.01× | 6 | 147 |
| West Virginia | $32,480 | 2,190 | 1.01× | 10 | 146 |
| District of Columbia | $62,150 | 2,350 | 1.09× | 5 | 135 |
| Montana | $36,540 | 960 | 0.61× | 11 | 131 |
| Delawaremoderate | $36,360 | 2,000 | 1.34× | 4 | 126 |
| South Dakota | $44,500 | 1,470 | 1.05× | 7 | 86 |
| North Dakota | $39,720 | 540 | 0.41× | 9 | 59 |
| Alaskamoderate | $46,130 | 520 | 0.52× | 3 | 32 |
| Wyoming | $29,930 | 1,040 | 1.20× | 6 | 31 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to 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.
- Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, and changing their diapers.
- 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.
- Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips.
Skills
- Speaking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Learning Strategies3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Active Learning3.1
- Writing3.0
Knowledge areas
- Education and Training4.0
- English Language3.8
- Public Safety and Security3.3
- Customer and Personal Service3.2
- Psychology3.1
- Administration and Management2.7
Abilities
- Oral Expression4.0
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Speech Clarity4.0
- Problem Sensitivity3.9
- Originality3.8
- Fluency of Ideas3.6
Core activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others4.2
- Getting Information4.0
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.0
- Training and Teaching Others3.8
- Thinking Creatively3.7
- Developing and Building Teams3.6
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Preschool Teacher
Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 12 majors mapped to Preschool Teachers10 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 13.0201Bilingual and Multilingual Education
- 13.1206Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
- 13.1207Montessori Teacher Education
- 13.1208Waldorf/Steiner Teacher Education(no graduates reported)
- 13.1209Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching
- 13.1210Early Childhood Education and Teaching
- 13.1212International Teaching and Learning
- 13.1401Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
- 13.1402Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language(no graduates reported)
- 13.1499Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other
- 19.0706Child Development
- 19.0708Child Care and Support Services Management
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Preschool Teacher?+
Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Early Childhood Education and Teaching, which awarded 33,622 degrees in 2024-25, 56.3% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Preschool Teacher?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 10 programs to this occupation. The largest are Teacher Education and Professional Development, Human Development, Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Bilingual. Together they graduate about 59,745 people a year.
How much do preschool teachers earn?+
The median is $38,140 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $28,990 at the 10th percentile to $61,390 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for preschool teachers growing?+
BLS projects a +4.1% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 65,500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
1,483 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 10 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do preschool teachers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Teacher, Toddler Teacher, Montessori Preschool Teacher, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher (Pre-K Teacher) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-2011.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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