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Early childhood specialist salary
Average early childhood specialist salary
$35,575
Understanding Early Childhood Specialist Salaries
The role of an Early Childhood Specialist is vital in shaping the development of young children. In the current job market, the average salary stands at $35,575 per year. This figure can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific industry of employment.
Salary Variance by State
In states like California and New York, salaries can exceed $40,000 due to higher living costs and demand for qualified professionals. In contrast, states with lower costs of living may offer salaries closer to the national average.
Job Opportunities
Early Childhood Specialists can find positions in various settings, including schools, childcare centers, and non-profit organizations. The demand for these professionals remains strong, especially in urban areas. Additionally, positions in specialized fields such as special education can command higher salaries, reflecting the need for specific expertise.
Conclusion
For those considering a career in early childhood education, understanding salary expectations and job opportunities is essential. By aligning your skills with market demands, you can enhance your career prospects and contribute positively to children's development.
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Where can an Early Childhood Specialist earn more?
Early childhood specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average early childhood specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for early childhood specialists are New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The lowest average early childhood specialist salary states are Wisconsin, Mississippi, and Alaska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for early childhood specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $42,482 | $20.42 |
| 2 | Maryland | $43,803 | $21.06 |
| 3 | New York | $45,018 | $21.64 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $41,233 | $19.82 |
| 5 | Michigan | $37,088 | $17.83 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $49,527 | $23.81 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $35,169 | $16.91 |
| 8 | Colorado | $37,771 | $18.16 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $43,316 | $20.82 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $35,653 | $17.14 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $33,908 | $16.30 |
| 12 | Texas | $36,659 | $17.62 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $36,815 | $17.70 |
| 14 | Maine | $35,915 | $17.27 |
| 15 | Arizona | $33,126 | $15.93 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $37,503 | $18.03 |
| 17 | California | $43,297 | $20.82 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $34,180 | $16.43 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $31,982 | $15.38 |
| 20 | Iowa | $32,457 | $15.60 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $36,283 | $17.44 |
| 22 | Kansas | $31,255 | $15.03 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $31,094 | $14.95 |
| 24 | Indiana | $31,776 | $15.28 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $31,799 | $15.29 |
| 26 | Virginia | $33,534 | $16.12 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $32,233 | $15.50 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $30,440 | $14.63 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $30,463 | $14.65 |
| 30 | Montana | $30,212 | $14.53 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $30,858 | $14.84 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $30,983 | $14.90 |
| 33 | Missouri | $30,564 | $14.69 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $30,289 | $14.56 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $30,135 | $14.49 |
| 36 | Nevada | $27,913 | $13.42 |
| 37 | Georgia | $30,753 | $14.79 |
| 38 | Delaware | $28,907 | $13.90 |
| 39 | Illinois | $29,048 | $13.97 |
| 40 | Oregon | $29,690 | $14.27 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $26,894 | $12.93 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $29,431 | $14.15 |
| 43 | Florida | $28,404 | $13.66 |
| 44 | Idaho | $22,758 | $10.94 |
| 45 | Washington | $28,848 | $13.87 |
| 46 | Alaska | $24,738 | $11.89 |
| 47 | Ohio | $27,178 | $13.07 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $26,309 | $12.65 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $25,762 | $12.39 |
| 50 | Utah | $24,054 | $11.56 |
| 51 | Alabama | $22,413 | $10.78 |
Highest paying cities for early childhood specialists
The highest-paying cities for early childhood specialists are Harrison, NY, Baltimore, MD, and Fremont, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harrison, NY | $45,164 | $21.71 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $43,702 | $21.01 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $37,997 | $18.27 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $37,767 | $18.16 |
| 6 | Hartford, CT | $35,696 | $17.16 |
| 7 | Charlottesville, VA | $33,431 | $16.07 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $33,164 | $15.94 |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $31,544 | $15.17 |
| 10 | Columbia, SC | $31,097 | $14.95 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $30,757 | $14.79 |
| 12 | Chapel Hill, NC | $30,706 | $14.76 |
| 13 | Columbia, MO | $30,639 | $14.73 |
| 14 | Santa Fe, NM | $30,542 | $14.68 |
| 15 | Missoula, MT | $30,012 | $14.43 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $29,534 | $14.20 |
| 17 | Des Plaines, IL | $29,288 | $14.08 |
| 18 | Olympia, WA | $29,090 | $13.99 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $27,969 | $13.45 |
| 20 | Toledo, OH | $27,816 | $13.37 |
Early childhood specialist salary details
An early childhood specialist's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $50,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an early childhood specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $35,575 | $2,965 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying early childhood specialist jobs
The highest paying types of early childhood specialists are specialist, special educator, and resource teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resource Teacher | $43,487 | $3,624 | $20.91 | 73,796 |
| Infant Teacher | $29,076 | $2,423 | $13.98 | 63,079 |
| Pre-K Teacher | $40,301 | $3,358 | $19.38 | 60,464 |
| Long Term Substitute Teacher | $42,808 | $3,567 | $20.58 | 69,133 |
| Toddler Teacher | $30,703 | $2,559 | $14.76 | 67,810 |
| Floater Teacher | $28,813 | $2,401 | $13.85 | 78,131 |
Top companies hiring early childhood specialists now:
Which companies pay early childhood specialists the most?
Early childhood specialist salaries at Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood and STG International are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average early childhood specialist salary at companies like ICF and Forsyth Country Day School are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood | $66,065 | $31.76 |
| 2 | STG International | $52,601 | $25.29 |
| 3 | ICF | $48,875 | $23.50 |
| 4 | Forsyth Country Day School | $48,833 | $23.48 |
| 5 | Bellevue Jr/Sr High School | $47,158 | $22.67 |
| 6 | Chicago Public Schools | $46,563 | $22.39 |
| 7 | International Rescue Committee | $44,446 | $21.37 |
| 8 | Washington State University | $44,024 | $21.17 |
| 9 | Research Foundation of The City University of New York | $43,201 | $20.77 |
| 10 | Independent Health | $42,991 | $20.67 |
| 11 | ascc | $40,821 | $19.63 |
| 12 | St. Clare Catholic School | $40,422 | $19.43 |
| 13 | Southwest Key Programs | $40,341 | $19.39 |
| 14 | LifeWorks | $40,336 | $19.39 |
| 15 | Coe | $39,940 | $19.20 |
| 16 | Canyon Independent School District | $39,718 | $19.10 |
| 17 | Scholastic | $38,747 | $18.63 |
| 18 | BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY ACTION | $38,718 | $18.61 |
| 19 | Children's Home & Aid | $38,573 | $18.54 |
| 20 | Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services | $38,459 | $18.49 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Early Childhood Specialist salary by industry
The average early childhood specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average early childhood specialist salary in the professional industry is $40,726, the highest of any industry.
- The average early childhood specialist salary in the finance industry is $35,570.
- Early childhood specialists in the health care industry earn an average salary of $33,999, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for early childhood specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $40,726 | $19.58 |
| 2 | Government | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| 3 | Education | $35,389 | $17.01 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $35,246 | $16.95 |
| 5 | Health Care | $33,999 | $16.35 |
High paying early childhood specialist jobs
Early childhood specialist salary trends
The average early childhood specialist salary has risen by $5,916 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average early childhood specialist earned $29,659 annually, but today, they earn $35,575 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for early childhood specialists over the last decade.
Compare early childhood specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average early childhood specialist salary over time
Compare early childhood specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Early childhood specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $35,600 | $17.10 | +4.4% |
| 2025 | $34,000 | $16.35 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $33,200 | $15.95 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $32,300 | $15.53 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $32,100 | $15.42 | +0.8% |
Recently added early childhood specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women Against Abuse | Early Childhood Specialist | Philadelphia, PA | 06/29/2025 | $39,256 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Early Childhood Specialist-Remote | WFH | Mountain Village, CO | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| ECE Subhub | Early Childhood Substitute for Preschool | Ann Arbor, MI | 06/27/2025 | $33,392 |
| Tacoma Community College | Early Childhood Program Specialist 3 | Tacoma, WA | 06/26/2025 | $43,716 |
| WSU | Early Childhood Program Specialist 1 | Pullman, WA | 06/26/2025 | $35,532 |
| Rockford Public Schools | Early Childhood Bilingual Family Educator Specialist 10M | Rockford, IL | 06/25/2025 | $51,278 |
| World Relief | Early Childhood Education Specialist | Carol Stream, IL | 06/24/2025 | $50,088 |
| YWCA of Binghamton | Early Childhood Aide | Binghamton, NY | 06/18/2025 | $33,392 |
| San Angelo ISD | Aide-Early Childhood-Temporary | San Angelo, TX | 06/18/2025 | $28,175 |
| Healthy Kids Programs | Early Childhood Learning Staff | Old Forge, NY | 06/16/2025 | $32,349 |
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