What Does a Preschool Teacher Do?
Preschool teachers educate and care for children typically between the ages of three and five, preparing them for kindergarten through structured play, creative activities, and early learning experiences. They focus on building foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, social interaction, and self-regulation. Preschool teachers work in childcare centers, Head Start programs, and public and private preschools.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Child Development Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher, Group Teacher, Infant Teacher, Montessori Preschool Teacher, Nursery Teacher, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher (Pre-K Teacher), Teacher.
Preschool Teacher Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a preschool teacher include:
- Plan and implement age-appropriate lessons and activities that promote cognitive, physical, and social development.
- Teach basic concepts such as colors, shapes, numbers, letters, and early literacy skills through play-based learning.
- Create a safe, nurturing, and stimulating classroom environment with organized learning centers.
- Observe and assess each child developmental progress, documenting milestones and areas of concern.
- Guide children in developing social skills such as sharing, taking turns, and resolving conflicts peacefully.
- Read aloud to children daily to build a love of books and support language development.
- Communicate regularly with parents about their child progress, behavior, and daily activities.
- Manage classroom routines including circle time, snack, rest, outdoor play, and transitions.
- Collaborate with teaching assistants, specialists, and administrators to support all learners.
- Maintain compliance with state licensing requirements, health and safety standards, and program policies.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a preschool teacher, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Early childhood development knowledge
- Play-based instructional strategies
- Classroom management for young children
- Observation and developmental assessment
- Creative activity planning
- Patience and nurturing demeanor
- Parent communication
- Health and safety awareness
Education and Training
Preschool teacher requirements vary by setting and state. Head Start and public pre-K programs often require a bachelor degree in early childhood education. Private childcare centers may accept an associate degree or Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. State-funded programs increasingly require bachelor degrees with specialized early childhood coursework. All preschool teachers benefit from training in child development, curriculum planning, and classroom management. Background checks, first aid training, and CPR certification are universally required.
Salary and Job Outlook
Average Salary: $28,000 - $42,000 per year
Many states are investing in universal pre-kindergarten, creating new positions for qualified teachers. Preschool teachers with bachelor degrees and state-approved credentials will have the best job prospects. The field continues to advocate for higher compensation to improve retention.
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as preschool teachers, except special education about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 85% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 83% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 58% spend more than half the workday on their feet
- 55% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 48% deal with loud or distracting noise every day
- 44% deal with rude or angry people at least once a week
- 42% spend more than half the day walking or moving around
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 29% |
| Bachelor's degree | 17% |
| Some college | 12% |
| Master's degree | 12% |
Tools and Software Preschool Teachers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy helping, teaching or caring for people as well as creative work and self-expression.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Speaking, Instructing, Active Listening, Learning Strategies, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking.
Knowledge areas used most: Education and Training, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Customer and Personal Service, Psychology.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Preschool Teacher Job
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Sources
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 25-2011.00 (Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.