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The differences between kindergarten teachers and head start teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a kindergarten teacher has an average salary of $48,029, which is higher than the $33,865 average annual salary of a head start teacher.
The top three skills for a kindergarten teacher include classroom management, math and professional development. The most important skills for a head start teacher are kids, math, and CPR.
| Kindergarten Teacher | Head Start Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $48,029 | $33,865 |
| Hourly rate | $23.09 | $16.28 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 65,972 | 67,747 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
Kindergarten teachers teach young children social and emotional skills, reading skills, music, and personal hygiene. They prepare these children for elementary school and certain life aspects. It is also their responsibility to teach children good classroom behavior, plan the curriculum daily and the whole school year, and conduct parent-teach meetings. Kindergarten teachers should encourage children to be observant of activities and give them the chance to ask questions and find the answers. They should also work with parents in putting an action plan to help children with emotional or developmental problems.
A head start teacher is responsible for organizing lectures and monitoring classroom operations for students with financial difficulties. Head start teachers have the same roles as regular teachers, such as preparing lesson plans, conducting assessments to test the students' knowledge, documenting their progress, and planning group activities to observe their personal and social behaviors. They also coordinate with the students' parents to share the child's difficulties and strategize methods to enhance capabilities. A head start teacher must have excellent communication skills, especially in attending to students for their needs and encouraging them to reach their maximum potentials.
Kindergarten teachers and head start teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Kindergarten Teacher | Head Start Teacher | |
| Average salary | $48,029 | $33,865 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $62,000 | Between $23,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Brooklyn Waldorf School | Topeka Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Education |
There are a few differences between a kindergarten teacher and a head start teacher in terms of educational background:
| Kindergarten Teacher | Head Start Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Early Childhood Education |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between kindergarten teachers' and head start teachers' demographics:
| Kindergarten Teacher | Head Start Teacher | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% | Male, 7.9% Female, 92.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 5.9% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |