Kindergarten Teacher: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

Median pay

$62,680

BLS May 2025

Employed in the U.S.

108,870

BLS May 2025

Preparation

Job Zone 4 of 5

considerable preparation

Most common education

Bachelor's Degree

76% of workers

Data Government data groups this job as Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (O*NET-SOC 25-2012.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
2. Prepare children for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
3. Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet students' varying needs and interests.
4. Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
5. Demonstrate activities to children.
6. Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
7. Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or special academic interests.
8. Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.

Telework available

less than 0.5%

of workers had the ability to telework

Workday sitting

34.6%

mean share of the day required to sit

Most common strength level

Light

87.8% of workers

Can pause work

14.3%

of workers could take short, unscheduled breaks

Self-paced workload

23.8%

of workers set their own workload

Employer-changed schedules

32.1%

of workers had schedules changed by the employer week to week

On TryHired lists: Jobs that don't require experience.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey. Estimates are preliminary; ranges are shown as published.

1. Educational services; state, local, and private97.3% of all jobs in this occupation · -0.2% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $69,640
2. Social assistance1.4% of all jobs in this occupation · -3.3% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $52,220
3. Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations1.0% of all jobs in this occupation · +1.6% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $50,760

Sources: BLS 2025–35 National Employment Matrix (share of the occupation's jobs, projected change) and BLS OEWS May 2025 industry estimates (mean wage). Different industry estimates are not a pay forecast for any person.

Knowledge areas: Education and Training, English Language, Psychology, Mathematics, Customer and Personal Service, Sociology and Anthropology.

• BloomzDesktop communications software
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• SeesawMulti-media educational software
• Microsoft ExcelSpreadsheet softwareHot technology
• Microsoft Office softwareOffice suite softwareHot technology
• Microsoft OutlookElectronic mail softwareHot technology
• Microsoft PowerPointPresentation softwareHot technology
• Microsoft WordWord processing softwareHot technology

Also called: Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Educator, Instructor, Kinder Teacher, Kindergarten Classroom Teacher.