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The differences between early childhood education instructors and preschool teacher's assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an early childhood education instructor, becoming a preschool teacher's assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an early childhood education instructor has an average salary of $41,294, which is higher than the $30,249 average annual salary of a preschool teacher's assistant.
The top three skills for an early childhood education instructor include autism, childhood education and child development. The most important skills for a preschool teacher's assistant are open communication, child development, and child care.
| Early Childhood Education Instructor | Preschool Teacher's Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $41,294 | $30,249 |
| Hourly rate | $19.85 | $14.54 |
| Growth rate | -6% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 68,342 | 48,217 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
With love for children, an early childhood education instructor helps children reach their optimum intelligence and healthy physique level. They develop programs that help children develop skills appropriate for age and development. Through these programs, they can observe for any developmental delays and behavioral problems of children. Instructors can tell the parents their observations and assist in looking for suitable solutions. They work alongside nurses, social workers, and parents to better all children and their health.
Preschool teacher assistants, paid an average of $25K per year, must have skills in childcare and communication. This career requires a minimum of a high school diploma, though in some situations, a bachelor's degree may be needed. Those who choose this career path interact with children, prepare snacks, teach things like color and shapes, help children to get dressed and/or change diapers, and evaluate children's development and physical wellness.
Early childhood education instructors and preschool teacher's assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Early Childhood Education Instructor | Preschool Teacher's Assistant | |
| Average salary | $41,294 | $30,249 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $57,000 | Between $23,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Mateo, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Northwestern University | Archdiocese of Philadelphia |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Education |
There are a few differences between an early childhood education instructor and a preschool teacher's assistant in terms of educational background:
| Early Childhood Education Instructor | Preschool Teacher's Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Early Childhood Education | Early Childhood Education |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Fairfield University |
Here are the differences between early childhood education instructors' and preschool teacher's assistants' demographics:
| Early Childhood Education Instructor | Preschool Teacher's Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 5.8% Female, 94.2% | Male, 7.1% Female, 92.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 6.0% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 5.3% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 5% |