[Sallie]

Can anyone tell me the highest starting salary and the lowest starting salary of a Preschool teacher?

[J_9]

In my area for a preschool teacher in a preschool setting (like a daycare), the salary averages from $8 an hour to $12 an hour.

That factor is also dependent upon your level of education.

[ballengerb1]

Supply, demand, location and economics of the locality all make this difficult to answer. In my area you would be looking at about $3 more per hour than McDonald's pay to its employees, doesn't sound to great to me.

[J_9]

Pay is one reason that we don't have quality preschools or daycares. They don't pay enough to the people who are educated well enough to teach our young children.

I got into this debate with my son's old preschool 2 years ago (before he started elementary school) and they could not keep teachers employed. They knew full well that the educated teachers required more money, but could not afford to pay them without raising their rates considerably. If they raised their rates that high, the parents would be forced to move their children to other preschools.

[ballengerb1]

J_9 hits it on the head. We want more salary for ourselves but when it comes to paying for a service we want it cheap. This is an impossible system and that's why 75+% of our products are coming out of China.

[J_9]

It was really good timing as my son was ready to go to elementary school and I did not have to pay in excess of $85 per week for his care. Now, that is relatively cheaper than I paid for my daughter 8 years prior to that in another state. I paid over $150 per week.

So, you see, it is all in the amount of education you have and your location.

[shygrneyzs]

Preschool teachers really get socked when it comes to salary. Most are lucky if they get $10.00 an hour. $9.75 an hour is an average starting wage in this area. Pretty sad for a four year degree, isn't it?

[J_9]

Oh, but you don't HAVE to have a 4 year degree to be a preschool teacher. There are certifications that one can get that will qualify you to teach preschool.

Now, if you have a 4 year degree in early childhood development there are other jobs out there that you want. Such as working in Head Start just to name one. My niece has a 4 year degree and she would never step foot in a daycare/preschool because the pay is terrible. Instead, with her degree she works in early childhood development and intervention. This is where she determines if there are any physical or mental delays prior to children entering elementary school. The pay is MUCH better.

[shygrneyzs]

That may depend on the particular state and also the program funding, such as Title 1. Title 1 has more stringent requirements for teachers and paras/aides.

The following article shows each state and level of requirement, although the graph is three years old. http://nieer.org/resources/factsheets/2.pdf
North Dakota has amended the Century Code to state that in order to teach pre- kindergarten the individual must be licensed to teach by the education standards and practices boards and have a major in elem ed with an early childhood ed endorsement or have the major in early childhood ed.

This article is from the Head Start site on teacher qualification mandates: Teacher Qualifications Mandate

I agree that if a teacher has the four year degree, there are better paying jobs out there besides teaching.

[J_9]

You are right Shy about Title 1 and all, but those are federally, or state, funded schools. Most preschools are in essence daycares. Daycares that have a preschool curriculum and are funded only by parents and food programs.

Title 1 was specifically designed to improve academic achievement of the disadvantaged population. It is used in Head Start as well as many public school systems.

Most preschool/daycare settings are a for-profit entity, therefore only a certification is needed in most states.

Title I - Improving The Academic Achievement Of The Disadvantaged

[shygrneyzs]

True, I can go and purchase, or even download, a preschool curriculum and open my own little preschool. There are some great preschool sites, like Preschool by Stormie. Takes all the guess work out of the curriculum. When I worked for Head Start one of my family's had their child enrolled in a daycare/preschool and that person was using almost the identical curriculum that the family visitors from Head Start used. She purchased hers from someplace in California. Included everything down to the craft supplies. It was almost funny - I would come with a unit on home safety and the Mom would say, "that is what Jon is working on this week too!"

[J_9]

Exactly!!

Little J's preschool used the Abecca Curriculum. It was not a federal or state funded preschool, it was for profit only. Sooo, they could not afford to pay educated teachers what they are worth. It is much easier and affordable to hire one who has received a certificate rather than a diploma.