Early Childhood Education: Teacher Salaries

There are now 2.1 million people employed in the field of early childhood education according to data from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), that counts all staff involved in early childhood education—teachers, administrators, at-home educators and other ECE professionals. Now might be a great time for you to join the ranks.

Early Childhood Education: Teacher Salary Information

If you're thinking of a career in early childhood education, you should know that things are changing for the better. According to the advocacy group Pre-K Now, 30 of the 38 states that support pre-kindergarten programs increased their enrollment in 2007, and state spending per child for pre-kindergarten programs went up for the first time in over five years.

Related to this increased focus on the value of pre-kindergarten education, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a 26 percent growth in employment for early childhood education jobs. That translates into 115,000 new jobs in the field, adding to the 437,000 currently held. There are now great job opportunities for those looking for a career in early childhood education.

How Much Will I Earn as an Early Childhood Education Teacher?

Depending on whether you work in a day-care center, preschool, kindergarten or grade school, you'll earn between $22,430 to $38,290 per year as an early childhood teacher. Location also plays a strong role in wages earned, with average teacher salaries in some large metropolitan areas topping $41,000.

Three states offer the highest average salaries for early childhood education teaching jobs:

• New York at $37,520
• New Jersey at $32,960
• Michigan at $31,690.

The Path to Higher Wages in Early Childhood Education

The normal career path in ECE will find you following an upward path of promotions. If you enter the industry on the ground level, you might start as an assistant teacher and improve your salary as you work your way up to teacher, and then lead teacher. Eventually, with more education and experience, you can advance to the role of director of a school or center. With greater responsibilities come greater financial rewards.

While finding an early childhood education job in a particular city or state can offer you higher pay, you may not want to relocate. Pre-K Now suggests that teachers can further improve their wages through specialized training or additional education. Teachers sometimes begin their career teaching in a preschool with an associate's degree in early childhood education. Those who hold bachelor's degrees generally qualify to teach kindergarten through third grade. Taking a position teaching a higher grade typically results in a higher salary. Getting a master's degree or adding another endorsement onto your resume will also help, and also open up more options.

Career Opportunities in Early Childhood Education

With the increased focus on the value of early childhood education and the subsequent wave of new jobs, those qualified to teach young children can anticipate a broad range of career opportunities. Not only can they make a difference in the lifelong learning experiences of their students but they can positively influence the quality and standards of the programs they teach—making the outlook and prospects even better for the next generation of teachers.