Early Childhood Education
Career Outlook
Gina Smith

Career Overview
• Extremely rewarding and satisfying career
• Wide variety of challenges
• Must love young children
• Ability to nurture and teach
• Organized leadership qualities and patience

Nature of Work
• Teachers help students learn and apply concepts in the
following subjects:
o Science
o Mathematics
o English
o Language Arts

Nature of Work Cont.
• Observe and evaluate students’ performance to
make sure they are where they should be
developmentally by:
o Preparing Lesson Plans
o Assigning Homework & Tests
o Grading Assignments & Assessing Progress

Qualifications & Training
• Obtain an Associate’s Degree (Head Start only)
• Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree (PreK-3)
• Complete an approved teacher training program
• Obtain a license from state Board of Education
• Experience in the field of ECE

Career Options
• Child Care Worker
• Education Administrator
• Preschool Teacher
• Kindergarten or Elementary School Teacher

Earnings
• Based on level of experience and geographic
location
• Median salary for Preschool teachers is $23,000
• Salary range for Elementary teachers is between
$30,000 and $72,000
• Median salary for Elementary teachers is $45,000

Outlook
Projections Data from the National Employment Matrix
Occupational Employment, Projected Change, 2006-2016
Title 2006 Employment,
Number Percent
2016
Preschool &
kindergarten 607,000 750,000 143,000 23
teachers
Preschool
teachers, except 437,000 552,000 115,000 26
special education
Kindergarten
teachers, except 170,000 198,000 28,000 16
special education
Elementary
school teachers, 1,540,000 1,749,000 209,000 14
except special
education
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009 Edition, Teachers—Preschool, kindergarten, Elementary

Outlook Cont.
• Job prospects are expected to be favorable
– Particularly in high demand fields such as
mathematics, science, and bilingual education
– Also favorable in less desirable urban or rural areas

Questions??