Education and libraries
Kindergarten teachers, except special education
Teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students.
Median pay
$62,680
Growth to 2035
0%
little or no change
Openings a year
11,900
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Kindergarten teachers, except special education
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to kindergarten teachers, except special education
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Kindergarten teachers, except special education: 69% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- Prepare children for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
- Demonstrate activities to children.
- Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or special academic interests.
- Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
Also called: Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher · Classroom Teacher · Educator · Instructor · Kinder Teacher · Kindergarten Classroom Teacher · Teacher · Title One Kindergarten Teacher
Outlook and AI
Kindergarten teachers, except special education held 111,200 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 110,900 by 2035 (0%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Kindergarten teachers, except special education vs. Elementary school teacher
- Kindergarten teachers, except special education vs. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Kindergarten teachers, except special education vs. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Kindergarten teachers, except special education vs. High school teacher
- Kindergarten teachers, except special education vs. Special education teachers, secondary school
- Kindergarten teachers, except special education vs. Special education teachers, middle school
- Kindergarten teachers, except special education vs. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors