How to Become a Kindergarten Teacher
Teach children their first year of formal school, blending early academics with social growth. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $62,680 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$62,680/yr
Middle half
$52,180 to $79,910
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
12,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Early Literacy Instruction
- Classroom Management
- Learning Strategies
- Patience
- Family Communication
Helpful certifications
- State teaching licensure
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
52/100
Work-life balance
60/100
Stress level
51/100
Related careers
- School Principal (K-12 Administrator)$105,870 median
- College Administrator (Postsecondary)$104,590 median
- School Psychologist$95,990 median
- Instructional Coordinator$77,440 median
- Teacher (Secondary Education)$72,040 median
- Librarian$68,270 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Kindergarten Teacher make?
The median pay for a Kindergarten Teacher is $62,680 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $52,180 and $79,910 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Kindergarten Teacher?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Education.
Is Kindergarten Teacher a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 12,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Kindergarten Teacher use most?
Common skills for this role are Early Literacy Instruction, Classroom Management, Learning Strategies, Patience, and Family Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).