Education & Library
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Also called: Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Educator, Instructor
US median pay
$62,680
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-0.3%
declining
Openings a year (US)
11,900
111,200 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students.
What they do day to day
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- Prepare children for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
- Demonstrate activities to children.
- Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or special academic interests.
- Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
- Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness4.1/5
- Instructing4.1/5
- Coordination3.9/5
- Time Management3.8/5
- Service Orientation3.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4/5
- Persuasion3.2/5
Knowledge
- Education and Training4.7/5
- English Language4.6/5
- Psychology4.0/5
- Mathematics3.9/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.5/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.3/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree76%
- Master's degree14%
- Post-baccalaureate certificate11%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.