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Day care teacher vs lead teacher

The differences between day care teachers and lead teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead teacher has an average salary of $33,652, which is higher than the $31,231 average annual salary of a day care teacher.

The top three skills for a day care teacher include kids, child care and CPR. The most important skills for a lead teacher are CPR, customer service, and child care.

Day care teacher vs lead teacher overview

Day Care TeacherLead Teacher
Yearly salary$31,231$33,652
Hourly rate$15.01$16.18
Growth rate4%5%
Number of jobs138,11056,131
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4443
Years of experience-2

What does a day care teacher do?

A Daycare Teacher is an individual who educates young children and toddlers with lessons and daily activities. Daycare Teachers perform various tasks that include grading student assignments and worksheets, encouraging good manners and positive behavior, and stimulating students intellectually using different learning methods such as games and stories. They will communicate with parents and provide them updates on their children's progress. They will also identify behavioral issues and create strategies to resolve them.

What does a lead teacher do?

The Lead Teacher works with parents to resolve student issues and train new teachers on effective teaching techniques. A Lead Teacher is a licensed teacher with extensive teaching experience and preferably has a master's in education or related studies. They are an integral part of a school's faculty and the principal's arm in drafting policies for implementation.

Day care teacher vs lead teacher salary

Day care teachers and lead teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Day Care TeacherLead Teacher
Average salary$31,231$33,652
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $42,000Between $22,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CityCambridge, MASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Best paying companyCincinnati Hills Christian AcademySuccess Preparatory Academy
Best paying industry--

Differences between day care teacher and lead teacher education

There are a few differences between a day care teacher and a lead teacher in terms of educational background:

Day Care TeacherLead Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorElementary EducationEarly Childhood Education
Most common collegeDuke UniversitySan Diego State University

Day care teacher vs lead teacher demographics

Here are the differences between day care teachers' and lead teachers' demographics:

Day Care TeacherLead Teacher
Average age4443
Gender ratioMale, 10.3% Female, 89.7%Male, 10.2% Female, 89.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 9.0% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 3.5% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage6%12%

Differences between day care teacher and lead teacher duties and responsibilities

Day care teacher example responsibilities.

  • Participate in safety, first aid and CPR classes.
  • Offer detailed daily reports that outline each child's activities.Upheld all CPR and Florida regulate certifications.
  • Operate van safely when driving residents, adhering to reasonable cleanliness standards and notifying appropriate personnel of maintenance concerns.
  • Prepare, plan, organize, and instruct interactive classes to engage children in bible and life lessons.

Lead teacher example responsibilities.

  • Plan and implement theme and project-base lessons that incorporate math, literacy, science, physical development, and social/emotional skills.
  • Cultivate and foster safe and effective learning environment conducive for Pre-K students.
  • Model positive behavior management techniques through daily contact with children and early childhood staff in the classroom.
  • Develop lesson plans on a bi-weekly basis that comply with early childhood standards and relate to the weekly theme.
  • Require CPR certification and ongoing continuing education.
  • Develop programs that introduce math and literacy concepts.
  • Show more

Day care teacher vs lead teacher skills

Common day care teacher skills
  • Kids, 20%
  • Child Care, 17%
  • CPR, 11%
  • Learning Environment, 11%
  • Mathematics, 8%
  • Child Development, 8%
Common lead teacher skills
  • CPR, 19%
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Child Care, 17%
  • Child Development, 15%
  • Classroom Management, 11%
  • Pre-K, 3%

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