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The differences between day care teachers and pre-k teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pre-k teacher has an average salary of $40,301, 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 pre-k teacher are kids, math, and language arts.
| Day Care Teacher | Pre-K Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $31,231 | $40,301 |
| Hourly rate | $15.01 | $19.38 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 138,110 | 60,464 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
Pre-K teachers play an essential role in the lives of young children ages three to five years old by developing and nurturing their interest in subjects appropriate for their age. They promote a creative learning environment and encourage social interactions among students while providing the fundamental educational foundation that will prepare them for a successful start to kindergarten. They are responsible for overseeing children during their mealtimes, reinforcing personal hygiene, and developing children's social skills. Pre-K teachers also plan curriculum and work with other school staff members.
Day care teachers and pre-k teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Day Care Teacher | Pre-K Teacher | |
| Average salary | $31,231 | $40,301 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $42,000 | Between $28,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cambridge, MA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New York |
| Best paying company | Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy | Faulkner University |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a day care teacher and a pre-k teacher in terms of educational background:
| Day Care Teacher | Pre-K Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Early Childhood Education |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between day care teachers' and pre-k teachers' demographics:
| Day Care Teacher | Pre-K Teacher | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 10.3% Female, 89.7% | Male, 8.5% Female, 91.5% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 9.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |