Becoming an Early Childhood Educator via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Post University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering early childhood education courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
early childhood educators,
preschool teachers,
kindergarten teachers,
early childhood teachers,
early childhood special education teachers, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 51,140 people employed as
education administrators, preschool and child care center/program alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$48,170.
Preschool teachers make on average $27,450
per year and there are about 389,660
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Post University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for an Early Childhood Educator
- Schools
- Daycare
- Child Development Centers
- Child Psychology Offices
- Adoption Clinics
- Social Service Offices
- Doctor offices
- Churches
- Preschools
- Counseling offices
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as an Early Childhood Educator
- Work with children
- Enrich lives daily
- Shape the children of the future
- Work fairly normal monday-friday hours
- Build bonds with children
- Learn teaching skills and continue education free
- Have job security
- Save children in danger
- Make a difference in the everyday lives of children
- Help parents that may need advice
Potential Drawbacks
- Work late hours
- Have to watch kids
- Deal with unruly children
- May have to travel
- Becoming impatient with slower children
- Not a high compensation career
- Becoming fatigued from entertaining children
- Deal with rude parents
- Clean up messes frequently
- Constantly continue your education
Related Professions to Consider
- Children's Entertainer
- Child Care Coordinator
- Child Hood Education and Training Careers
- School Administrator
- Early Child Hood Teacher
- Child Development Apprenticeship
- Child Care Workers
- Children's Nurse
- Paraeducator
- Babysitters and Nannies
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be an Early Childhood Educator
- What are the stages of early childhood development?
- What specific characteristics/qualities do family orientated children have?
- What role do parents play in assigning gender roles?
- What are strength and weakness of motivation research?
- What knowledge skills and abilities you can bring to this position as summer school paraprofessional?
- How does parental involvement influence a child's behavior?
- What factors influence a child's IQ?
- What are some signs of delayed development?
- How does parental involvement influence a child's behavior?
- What are strength and weakness of motivation research?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Psychologist
- Pediatrician
- Guidance Counselor
- Teacher
- Principal
- Early Childhood Education Professor
- School Superintendent
- School Administration
- School Nurse
- Teaching Assistant
Early Childhood Educator Training books
Early Childhood Educator (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Early Childhood Education
- Human Development and Family Sciences
- Special Education
- Exercise Science Education
- Art Education
- Music Education
- Physical Fitness and Health
- Religious Education
- Education and Human Ecology
- Educational Administration
Early Childhood Educator Salary Information
Category: Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program
| Total # Employed in the US |
51,140 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$23.16/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $12.62 |
$15.39 |
$19.74 |
$27.98 |
$38.71 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$48,170 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $26,250 |
$32,010 |
$41,060 |
$58,190 |
$80,530 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.7% |
5.5% |
8.9% |
4.9% |
22.2% |
44.8% |
12.9% |
|
Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Oklahoma |
$28.92/hr
|
$60,150
|
| Florida |
$28.7/hr
|
$59,710
|
| Virginia |
$27.33/hr
|
$56,860
|
| North Dakota |
$26.46/hr
|
$55,030
|
| Colorado |
$26.05/hr
|
$54,170
|
| Missouri |
$25.71/hr
|
$53,480
|
| Kansas |
$25/hr
|
$52,000
|
| Washington |
$23.63/hr
|
$49,160
|
| West Virginia |
$23.56/hr
|
$49,000
|
| Maine |
$23.4/hr
|
$48,680
|
| Delaware |
$22.86/hr
|
$47,550
|
| Idaho |
$22.83/hr
|
$47,480
|
| Maryland |
$22.39/hr
|
$46,560
|
| Alabama |
$22.17/hr
|
$46,110
|
| Arkansas |
$21.51/hr
|
$44,730
|
| South Carolina |
$21.42/hr
|
$44,550
|
| New Jersey |
$21.26/hr
|
$44,230
|
| Connecticut |
$21.04/hr
|
$43,760
|
| Mississippi |
$20.97/hr
|
$43,630
|
| District of Columbia |
$20.83/hr
|
$43,330
|
| Nebraska |
$20.68/hr
|
$43,010
|
| New Mexico |
$20.67/hr
|
$42,990
|
| Kentucky |
$20.5/hr
|
$42,640
|
| Indiana |
$20.48/hr
|
$42,600
|
| New Hampshire |
$20.13/hr
|
$41,870
|
| Puerto Rico |
$19.61/hr
|
$40,800
|
| Alaska |
$19.61/hr
|
$40,780
|
| North Carolina |
$19.39/hr
|
$40,340
|
| New York |
$19.33/hr
|
$40,210
|
| Utah |
$19.18/hr
|
$39,900
|
| Nevada |
$18.99/hr
|
$39,510
|
| Michigan |
$18.96/hr
|
$39,430
|
| Oregon |
$18.71/hr
|
$38,920
|
| California |
$18.62/hr
|
$38,730
|
| Tennessee |
$18.24/hr
|
$37,930
|
| South Dakota |
$18.06/hr
|
$37,560
|
| Wyoming |
$17.7/hr
|
$36,810
|
| Wisconsin |
$17.34/hr
|
$36,070
|
| Pennsylvania |
$16.9/hr
|
$35,160
|
| Guam |
$16.67/hr
|
$34,680
|
| Massachusetts |
$16.58/hr
|
$34,480
|
| Louisiana |
$16.13/hr
|
$33,550
|
Category: Preschool teachers, except special education
| Total # Employed in the US |
389,660 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$13.2/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.9 |
$9.27 |
$11.8 |
$15.5 |
$20.95 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$27,450 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16,420 |
$19,280 |
$24,540 |
$32,240 |
$43,570 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.0% |
15.9% |
23.7% |
14.0% |
31.8% |
11.9% |
0.8% |
|
Preschool teachers, except special education — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| North Dakota |
$16.24/hr
|
$33,770
|
| Oklahoma |
$15.83/hr
|
$32,920
|
| Florida |
$15.71/hr
|
$32,680
|
| Missouri |
$15.44/hr
|
$32,120
|
| Virginia |
$15.21/hr
|
$31,630
|
| Montana |
$15.08/hr
|
$31,370
|
| Nebraska |
$14.93/hr
|
$31,050
|
| Indiana |
$14.84/hr
|
$30,860
|
| Colorado |
$14.66/hr
|
$30,500
|
| Delaware |
$14.45/hr
|
$30,050
|
| Connecticut |
$14.35/hr
|
$29,850
|
| Alaska |
$14.08/hr
|
$29,300
|
| Mississippi |
$13.94/hr
|
$29,000
|
| Maine |
$13.76/hr
|
$28,610
|
| Kansas |
$13.62/hr
|
$28,320
|
| Puerto Rico |
$13.53/hr
|
$28,140
|
| Michigan |
$13.17/hr
|
$27,390
|
| North Carolina |
$13/hr
|
$27,040
|
| Maryland |
$12.98/hr
|
$27,000
|
| Wyoming |
$12.83/hr
|
$26,690
|
| South Dakota |
$12.77/hr
|
$26,560
|
| Louisiana |
$12.72/hr
|
$26,460
|
| West Virginia |
$12.68/hr
|
$26,380
|
| Pennsylvania |
$12.36/hr
|
$25,720
|
| Ohio |
$12.35/hr
|
$25,690
|
| Washington |
$12.34/hr
|
$25,660
|
| Utah |
$12.31/hr
|
$25,610
|
| California |
$12.3/hr
|
$25,570
|
| Arkansas |
$12.23/hr
|
$25,440
|
| Hawaii |
$12.1/hr
|
$25,170
|
| Alabama |
$12.04/hr
|
$25,050
|
| Tennessee |
$11.88/hr
|
$24,710
|
| Idaho |
$11.75/hr
|
$24,440
|
| Wisconsin |
$11.68/hr
|
$24,290
|
| Kentucky |
$11.61/hr
|
$24,140
|
| New Hampshire |
$11.55/hr
|
$24,030
|
| District of Columbia |
$11.52/hr
|
$23,960
|
| New York |
$11.46/hr
|
$23,840
|
| New Mexico |
$11.21/hr
|
$23,330
|
| Guam |
$11.05/hr
|
$22,980
|
| New Jersey |
$11.04/hr
|
$22,970
|
| Nevada |
$10.85/hr
|
$22,570
|
| Oregon |
$10.83/hr
|
$22,530
|
| South Carolina |
$10.64/hr
|
$22,130
|
| Massachusetts |
$10.43/hr
|
$21,690
|
| Iowa |
$9.56/hr
|
$19,880
|
Category: Elementary school teachers, except special education
| Total # Employed in the US |
1,544,300 |
| Average Yearly Salary |
$53,150 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $33,830 |
$40,850 |
$50,510 |
$63,600 |
$78,720 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.3% |
1.0% |
2.9% |
2.1% |
46.5% |
44.4% |
2.9% |
|
Elementary school teachers, except special education — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Alabama |
-
|
$46,810
|
| Alaska |
-
|
$68,070
|
| Arkansas |
-
|
$42,450
|
| California |
-
|
$42,570
|
| Colorado |
-
|
$61,230
|
| Connecticut |
-
|
$48,010
|
| Delaware |
-
|
$66,660
|
| District of Columbia |
-
|
$50,480
|
| Florida |
-
|
$64,200
|
| Hawaii |
-
|
$49,400
|
| Idaho |
-
|
$52,390
|
| Indiana |
-
|
$48,730
|
| Iowa |
-
|
$48,340
|
| Kansas |
-
|
$58,510
|
| Kentucky |
-
|
$47,540
|
| Louisiana |
-
|
$41,720
|
| Maine |
-
|
$41,490
|
| Maryland |
-
|
$47,350
|
| Massachusetts |
-
|
$44,620
|
| Michigan |
-
|
$45,270
|
| Mississippi |
-
|
$61,000
|
| Missouri |
-
|
$60,810
|
| Montana |
-
|
$54,290
|
| Nebraska |
-
|
$51,290
|
| Nevada |
-
|
$41,770
|
| New Hampshire |
-
|
$43,200
|
| New Jersey |
-
|
$39,540
|
| New Mexico |
-
|
$43,850
|
| New York |
-
|
$47,110
|
| North Carolina |
-
|
$49,280
|
| North Dakota |
-
|
$60,860
|
| Ohio |
-
|
$50,930
|
| Oklahoma |
-
|
$65,820
|
| Oregon |
-
|
$42,550
|
| Pennsylvania |
-
|
$42,880
|
| South Carolina |
-
|
$51,970
|
| South Dakota |
-
|
$41,530
|
| Tennessee |
-
|
$50,550
|
| Utah |
-
|
$52,370
|
| Virginia |
-
|
$68,410
|
| Washington |
-
|
$45,310
|
| West Virginia |
-
|
$38,350
|
| Wisconsin |
-
|
$46,280
|
| Wyoming |
-
|
$49,970
|
| Guam |
-
|
$45,730
|
| Puerto Rico |
-
|
$51,940
|
Category: Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school
| Total # Employed in the US |
228,580 |
| Average Yearly Salary |
$53,770 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $34,010 |
$41,210 |
$50,950 |
$64,350 |
$79,850 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.4% |
4.6% |
5.9% |
3.8% |
38.3% |
44.9% |
2.1% |
|
Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Alabama |
-
|
$47,750
|
| Alaska |
-
|
$70,320
|
| Arkansas |
-
|
$40,950
|
| California |
-
|
$43,080
|
| Colorado |
-
|
$63,440
|
| Connecticut |
-
|
$50,700
|
| Delaware |
-
|
$68,120
|
| District of Columbia |
-
|
$48,610
|
| Florida |
-
|
$48,770
|
| Hawaii |
-
|
$51,810
|
| Idaho |
-
|
$51,550
|
| Indiana |
-
|
$49,110
|
| Iowa |
-
|
$43,460
|
| Kansas |
-
|
$52,870
|
| Kentucky |
-
|
$48,030
|
| Louisiana |
-
|
$44,000
|
| Maine |
-
|
$46,070
|
| Maryland |
-
|
$47,400
|
| Massachusetts |
-
|
$46,200
|
| Michigan |
-
|
$43,720
|
| Mississippi |
-
|
$61,120
|
| Missouri |
-
|
$56,360
|
| Montana |
-
|
$56,830
|
| Nebraska |
-
|
$51,760
|
| Nevada |
-
|
$44,570
|
| New Hampshire |
-
|
$44,800
|
| New Jersey |
-
|
$37,960
|
| New Mexico |
-
|
$43,390
|
| New York |
-
|
$49,800
|
| North Carolina |
-
|
$47,920
|
| North Dakota |
-
|
$60,100
|
| Ohio |
-
|
$52,050
|
| Oklahoma |
-
|
$66,460
|
| Oregon |
-
|
$44,680
|
| Pennsylvania |
-
|
$44,640
|
| South Carolina |
-
|
$49,900
|
| South Dakota |
-
|
$44,740
|
| Tennessee |
-
|
$50,330
|
| Utah |
-
|
$54,160
|
| Virginia |
-
|
$65,550
|
| Washington |
-
|
$44,990
|
| West Virginia |
-
|
$37,880
|
| Wisconsin |
-
|
$45,660
|
| Wyoming |
-
|
$49,130
|
| Guam |
-
|
$45,570
|
| Puerto Rico |
-
|
$51,810
|
Category: Child care workers
| Total # Employed in the US |
595,650 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$10.07/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.37 |
$8.0 |
$9.25 |
$11.49 |
$14.24 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$20,940 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15,340 |
$16,640 |
$19,240 |
$23,900 |
$29,620 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 16.2% |
36.5% |
25.4% |
8.4% |
11.2% |
1.8% |
0.3% |
|
Child care workers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$11.82/hr
|
$24,590
|
| Missouri |
$11.77/hr
|
$24,480
|
| Oklahoma |
$11.56/hr
|
$24,040
|
| Colorado |
$11.41/hr
|
$23,730
|
| Alaska |
$11.38/hr
|
$23,670
|
| Delaware |
$11.19/hr
|
$23,280
|
| Connecticut |
$11/hr
|
$22,890
|
| North Dakota |
$10.92/hr
|
$22,710
|
| Virginia |
$10.83/hr
|
$22,530
|
| Puerto Rico |
$10.63/hr
|
$22,100
|
| South Carolina |
$10.59/hr
|
$22,030
|
| Kansas |
$10.58/hr
|
$22,010
|
| Mississippi |
$10.55/hr
|
$21,940
|
| Michigan |
$10.47/hr
|
$21,780
|
| Montana |
$10.38/hr
|
$21,590
|
| Tennessee |
$10.26/hr
|
$21,340
|
| North Carolina |
$9.87/hr
|
$20,520
|
| Nebraska |
$9.78/hr
|
$20,340
|
| Utah |
$9.7/hr
|
$20,170
|
| District of Columbia |
$9.63/hr
|
$20,030
|
| Arkansas |
$9.6/hr
|
$19,970
|
| New Hampshire |
$9.56/hr
|
$19,880
|
| New York |
$9.55/hr
|
$19,850
|
| Hawaii |
$9.45/hr
|
$19,660
|
| Indiana |
$9.45/hr
|
$19,660
|
| Louisiana |
$9.23/hr
|
$19,210
|
| Maine |
$9.13/hr
|
$18,980
|
| Ohio |
$9.12/hr
|
$18,960
|
| Kentucky |
$9.11/hr
|
$18,940
|
| Oregon |
$9.04/hr
|
$18,800
|
| Guam |
$8.96/hr
|
$18,640
|
| Maryland |
$8.86/hr
|
$18,430
|
| Idaho |
$8.83/hr
|
$18,360
|
| West Virginia |
$8.8/hr
|
$18,300
|
| Wyoming |
$8.75/hr
|
$18,210
|
| Massachusetts |
$8.74/hr
|
$18,190
|
| New Mexico |
$8.73/hr
|
$18,150
|
| Washington |
$8.64/hr
|
$17,960
|
| South Dakota |
$8.59/hr
|
$17,880
|
| Iowa |
$8.58/hr
|
$17,850
|
| Wisconsin |
$8.56/hr
|
$17,800
|
| New Jersey |
$8.53/hr
|
$17,740
|
| Alabama |
$8.44/hr
|
$17,560
|
| Pennsylvania |
$8.38/hr
|
$17,440
|
| Nevada |
$8.15/hr
|
$16,950
|
| California |
$8.05/hr
|
$16,750
|
