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The differences between preschool teachers and head start teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a preschool teacher and a head start teacher. Additionally, a head start teacher has an average salary of $33,865, which is higher than the $33,582 average annual salary of a preschool teacher.
The top three skills for a preschool teacher include child care, CPR and classroom management. The most important skills for a head start teacher are kids, math, and CPR.
| Preschool Teacher | Head Start Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $33,582 | $33,865 |
| Hourly rate | $16.15 | $16.28 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 55,298 | 67,747 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A project leader is in charge of managing and leading a team to reach project goals in adherence to schedules and budgets. Their responsibilities revolve around setting objectives and guidelines, assessing workforce performance, assisting staff in difficult areas, answering inquiries, and resolving issues to maintain an efficient workflow. A project leader must also produce progress reports and presentations, updating managers or supervisors as needed. Furthermore, as a project leader, it is essential to lead and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
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.
Preschool teachers and head start teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Preschool Teacher | Head Start Teacher | |
| Average salary | $33,582 | $33,865 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $47,000 | Between $23,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Kings Canyon Unified School District | Topeka Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between a preschool teacher and a head start teacher in terms of educational background:
| Preschool Teacher | Head Start Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Early Childhood Education | Early Childhood Education |
| Most common college | San Diego State University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between preschool teachers' and head start teachers' demographics:
| Preschool Teacher | Head Start Teacher | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 6.4% Female, 93.6% | Male, 7.9% Female, 92.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 5.5% White, 62.8% 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% |