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What is a pre-k teacher and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Dr. Diana Jones
introduction image

A pre-k teacher is an individual who teaches young children between the ages of three and five in a preschool setting. They are responsible for creating a safe and nurturing environment where children can learn through play-based activities that promote social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. They also help children develop self-awareness, self-control, problem-solving skills, creativity, and a love of learning that will serve them well throughout their academic careers.

What general advice would you give to a Pre-K Teacher?

Dr. Diana JonesDr. Diana Jones LinkedIn Profile

Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University

General advice: I would encourage graduates to find a mentor who can guide them in their careers, stay on top of the latest technology, not be too hard on themselves, be flexible, be team players, be present, and care about their students.
ScorePre-K TeacherUS Average
Salary
3.1

Avg. Salary $40,301

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.6

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.52%

Asian 3.66%

Black or African American 9.74%

Hispanic or Latino 12.56%

Unknown 3.91%

White 69.61%

Gender

female 91.46%

male 8.54%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress Level
7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.5

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.3

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Pre-K Teacher?

Pros

  • Working with young children can be rewarding and fulfilling.

  • Seeing children learn and grow is satisfying.

  • There is always a demand for pre-k teachers.

  • The schedule can be flexible depending on the school.

  • Pre-k teachers often have summers off.

Cons

  • Working with young children can be physically and mentally exhausting.

  • There may be limited resources available for pre-k teachers.

  • Dealing with administrative tasks such as paperwork and meetings can be time-consuming.

  • Pre-k teachers may have to work in classrooms that are not well-equipped or spacious.

  • Pre-k teachers may have to deal with difficult parents or guardians.

Newest jobs for Pre-K Teacher in Ashburn, VA

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Pre-K Teacher career paths

Key steps to become a pre-k teacher

  1. Explore pre-k teacher education requirements

    Most common pre-k teacher degrees

    Bachelor's

    57.0 %

    Associate

    17.9 %

    Master's

    12.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific pre-k teacher skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Kids27.34%
    Math20.52%
    Language Arts17.40%
    Social Studies16.85%
    Bilingual Education8.86%
  3. Research pre-k teacher duties and responsibilities

    • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
    • Maintain records on each child s progress and development for the purpose of planning and compliance for NAEYC standards.
    • Educate children with autism during the regular school year in a self-contain setting according to their IEP goals and objectives.
    • Assist in: developing a curriculum, maintaining lesson plans, making sure kids have an understanding, and teaching students.
  4. Prepare your pre-k teacher resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your pre-k teacher resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a pre-k teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Pre-K Teacher Resume templates

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    Pre-K Teacher Resume
  5. Apply for pre-k teacher jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a pre-k teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Pre-K Teacher Job

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Are you a Pre-K Teacher?

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Average pre-k teacher salary

The average Pre-K Teacher salary in the United States is $40,301 per year or $19 per hour. Pre-k teacher salaries range between $28,000 and $57,000 per year.

Average Pre-K Teacher Salary
$40,301 Yearly
$19.38 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do pre-k teachers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

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Pre-K Teacher reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2022
Pros

Seeing the kids learn, grow, over come challenges.

Cons

It can be emotionally and physically draining, especially if not appreciated.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022
Pros

Gaining the childs trust and watching them geow and learn.

Cons

That in a year the children you fall in love with move on to the next grade.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days

Cons

Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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