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The differences between preschool teacher's assistants and lead 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's assistant and a lead teacher. Additionally, a lead teacher has an average salary of $33,652, which is higher than the $30,249 average annual salary of a preschool teacher's assistant.
The top three skills for a preschool teacher's assistant include open communication, child development and child care. The most important skills for a lead teacher are CPR, customer service, and child care.
| Preschool Teacher's Assistant | Lead Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $30,249 | $33,652 |
| Hourly rate | $14.54 | $16.18 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 48,217 | 56,131 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Preschool teacher assistants, paid an average of $25K per year, must have skills in childcare and communication. This career requires a minimum of a high school diploma, though in some situations, a bachelor's degree may be needed. Those who choose this career path interact with children, prepare snacks, teach things like color and shapes, help children to get dressed and/or change diapers, and evaluate children's development and physical wellness.
The Lead Teacher works with parents to resolve student issues and train new teachers on effective teaching techniques. A Lead Teacher is a licensed teacher with extensive teaching experience and preferably has a master's in education or related studies. They are an integral part of a school's faculty and the principal's arm in drafting policies for implementation.
Preschool teacher's assistants and lead teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Preschool Teacher's Assistant | Lead Teacher | |
| Average salary | $30,249 | $33,652 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $39,000 | Between $22,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | California |
| Best paying company | Archdiocese of Philadelphia | Success Preparatory Academy |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a preschool teacher's assistant and a lead teacher in terms of educational background:
| Preschool Teacher's Assistant | Lead Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Early Childhood Education | Early Childhood Education |
| Most common college | Fairfield University | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between preschool teacher's assistants' and lead teachers' demographics:
| Preschool Teacher's Assistant | Lead Teacher | |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 7.1% Female, 92.9% | Male, 10.2% Female, 89.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 5.3% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 3.5% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 12% |