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Secondary teacher vs pre-k teacher

The differences between secondary teachers and pre-k teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a secondary teacher has an average salary of $55,261, which is higher than the $40,301 average annual salary of a pre-k teacher.

The top three skills for a secondary teacher include public schools, classroom management and mathematics. The most important skills for a pre-k teacher are kids, math, and language arts.

Secondary teacher vs pre-k teacher overview

Secondary TeacherPre-K Teacher
Yearly salary$55,261$40,301
Hourly rate$26.57$19.38
Growth rate5%4%
Number of jobs68,36960,464
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4342
Years of experience2-

What does a secondary teacher do?

A secondary teacher plans subject lessons and presents them to learners using creative and engaging teaching methods. They assess the learners' abilities, strengths, and weaknesses and handle them appropriately. These professionals ensure a disciplined classroom by creating and maintaining rules that allow learners to ask questions with no fear and feel comfortable when brainstorming. Moreover, secondary teachers create lesson plans for learners who struggle with specific challenging concepts or when the classroom sizes change.

What does a pre-k teacher do?

Pre-K teachers play an essential role in the lives of young children ages three to five years old by developing and nurturing their interest in subjects appropriate for their age. They promote a creative learning environment and encourage social interactions among students while providing the fundamental educational foundation that will prepare them for a successful start to kindergarten. They are responsible for overseeing children during their mealtimes, reinforcing personal hygiene, and developing children's social skills. Pre-K teachers also plan curriculum and work with other school staff members.

Secondary teacher vs pre-k teacher salary

Secondary teachers and pre-k teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Secondary TeacherPre-K Teacher
Average salary$55,261$40,301
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $77,000Between $28,000 And $57,000
Highest paying CityBaltimore, MDNew York, NY
Highest paying stateMarylandNew York
Best paying companyBaltimore City Public SchoolsFaulkner University
Best paying industryEducation-

Differences between secondary teacher and pre-k teacher education

There are a few differences between a secondary teacher and a pre-k teacher in terms of educational background:

Secondary TeacherPre-K Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorEducationEarly Childhood Education
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Secondary teacher vs pre-k teacher demographics

Here are the differences between secondary teachers' and pre-k teachers' demographics:

Secondary TeacherPre-K Teacher
Average age4342
Gender ratioMale, 36.7% Female, 63.3%Male, 8.5% Female, 91.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 3.6% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage12%9%

Differences between secondary teacher and pre-k teacher duties and responsibilities

Secondary teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead IEP meetings, and participate in all team meetings focuses on emotional and behavior issues.
  • Manage FBLA, assist with meeting notes, financial records, and agendas for meetings, events, and fundraisers.
  • Conduct group and one-on-one math, reading and writing activities.
  • Develop and teach ESL curriculum to Taiwanese elementary, junior high, and high school students.
  • Participate in quarterly curriculum reviews and trainings with other math teachers in the school network and district.
  • Provide students with the fundamentals of a life-long love of literature and a comprehension of its place in society.
  • Show more

Pre-k teacher example 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.
  • Assist in NAEYC accreditation with individualize portfolios.
  • Develop and implement IEP's; individualize education plans.
  • Show more

Secondary teacher vs pre-k teacher skills

Common secondary teacher skills
  • Public Schools, 11%
  • Classroom Management, 9%
  • Mathematics, 9%
  • Math, 9%
  • Professional Development, 5%
  • Language Arts, 5%
Common pre-k teacher skills
  • Kids, 27%
  • Math, 21%
  • Language Arts, 17%
  • Social Studies, 17%
  • Bilingual Education, 9%
  • Pre-Kindergarten, 2%

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