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The differences between preschool lead teachers and kindergarten 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 $33,176 average annual salary of a preschool lead teacher.
The top three skills for a preschool lead teacher include CPR, professional development and child care. The most important skills for a kindergarten teacher are classroom management, math, and professional development.
| Preschool Lead Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $33,176 | $48,029 |
| Hourly rate | $15.95 | $23.09 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 54,870 | 65,972 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
A preschool lead teacher is responsible for managing the overall learning progress of preschool students. Preschool lead teachers to develop engaging and fun activities for the young learners to monitor their personal and social development. They also utilize learning techniques suitable for young learners' minds to improve their competencies and build self-confidence. They create progress reports and communicate the children's development to their parents. A preschool lead teacher should always adhere to the school regulations to ensure a safe and secure environment for the children.
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.
Preschool lead teachers and kindergarten teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Preschool Lead Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Average salary | $33,176 | $48,029 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $45,000 | Between $37,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | Brooklyn Waldorf School |
| Best paying industry | Government | Finance |
There are a few differences between a preschool lead teacher and a kindergarten teacher in terms of educational background:
| Preschool Lead Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Early Childhood Education | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between preschool lead teachers' and kindergarten teachers' demographics:
| Preschool Lead Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 6.0% Female, 94.0% | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.0% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |