What Do Kindergarten Teachers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for kindergarten teachers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what kindergarten teachers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Kindergarten Teachers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about kindergarten teachers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Kindergarten Teachers teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students.
Popular Job Titles For Kindergarten Teachers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Kindergarten Teachers
- Teachers
- Pre-Kindergarten Teachers
- Long Term Substitute Kindergarten Teachers
- Kindergarten Teacher Assistants
- Classroom Teachers
- Transitional Kindergarten Teachers
- Bilingual Kindergarten Teachers
- Two Year Old Teachers
- Teacher Trainers
- Teacher Assistants/Aides
- Champions
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for kindergarten teachers can be found.
Best Industries for Kindergarten Teachers
Kindergarten Teachers Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 80.7%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 15.9%
- Religious Organizations: 1.5%
- Child Day Care Services: 1.2%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 0.4%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 0.1%
- Other: 0.2%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of kindergarten teachers can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2022, about 80.7% of all jobs for kindergarten teachers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (15.9%), Religious Organizations (1.5%), Child Day Care Services (1.2%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (0.4%) and Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (0.1%).
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What Do Kindergarten Teachers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what kindergarten teachers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work kindergarten teachers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that kindergarten teachers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for kindergarten teachers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Kindergarten Teachers
Based on 13,370 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Kindergarten Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development | 3,033 | 23% |
| Lesson Planning | 2,858 | 21% |
| Classroom Management | 1,516 | 11% |
| Curriculum Development | 1,116 | 8% |
| Early Childhood Education | 992 | 7% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Kindergarten Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 6,245 | 47% |
| Communications | 3,590 | 27% |
| English Language | 3,231 | 24% |
| Leadership | 3,147 | 24% |
| Patience | 3,005 | 22% |
Based on 13,370 job postings related to kindergarten teachers, child development was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 23% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for lesson planning, classroom management, curriculum development, early childhood education and learning styles were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for kindergarten teachers, followed by communications, english language, leadership, patience and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development | 3,033 | 23% |
| Lesson Planning | 2,858 | 21% |
| Classroom Management | 1,516 | 11% |
| Curriculum Development | 1,116 | 8% |
| Early Childhood Education | 992 | 7% |
| Learning Styles | 981 | 7% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 888 | 7% |
| Differentiated Instruction | 855 | 6% |
| Educational Assessment | 784 | 6% |
| Primary Education | 780 | 6% |
| Special Education | 768 | 6% |
| Instructional Strategies | 561 | 4% |
| Social Studies | 494 | 4% |
| Office Equipment | 476 | 4% |
| Preschool Education | 429 | 3% |
| Working With Children | 416 | 3% |
| Small Group Instruction | 413 | 3% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 363 | 3% |
| Philosophy Of Education | 360 | 3% |
| Behavior Management | 358 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 6,245 | 47% |
| Communications | 3,590 | 27% |
| English Language | 3,231 | 24% |
| Leadership | 3,147 | 24% |
| Patience | 3,005 | 22% |
| Planning | 2,025 | 15% |
| Organizational Skills | 1,747 | 13% |
| Customer Service | 1,576 | 12% |
| Multitasking | 1,390 | 10% |
| Writing | 1,345 | 10% |
| Mathematics | 1,293 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,142 | 9% |
| Progress Reporting | 1,028 | 8% |
| Problem Solving | 878 | 7% |
| Management | 866 | 6% |
| Parent Communication | 864 | 6% |
| Research | 854 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 804 | 6% |
| Presentations | 581 | 4% |
| Multilingualism | 547 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Kindergarten Teachers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | 14,266 | 42.9% |
| Teachers | 9,194 | 27.6% |
| Pre-Kindergarten Teachers | 2,694 | 8.1% |
| Long Term Substitute Kindergarten Teachers | 727 | 2.2% |
| Kindergarten Teacher Assistants | 971 | 2.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was kindergarten teachers, with 5,904 unique job postings. Teachers were second, with 1,134 postings, followed by pre-kindergarten teachers, long term substitute kindergarten teachers and kindergarten teacher assistants.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to kindergarten teachers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | 14,266 | 42.9% |
| Teachers | 9,194 | 27.6% |
| Pre-Kindergarten Teachers | 2,694 | 8.1% |
| Long Term Substitute Kindergarten Teachers | 727 | 2.2% |
| Kindergarten Teacher Assistants | 971 | 2.9% |
| Classroom Teachers | 325 | 1% |
| Transitional Kindergarten Teachers | 401 | 1.2% |
| Bilingual Kindergarten Teachers | 394 | 1.2% |
| Two Year Old Teachers | 343 | 1% |
| Teacher Trainers | 751 | 2.3% |
| Teacher Assistants/Aides | 592 | 1.8% |
| Champions | 546 | 1.6% |
| Kindergarten Prep Teachers | 265 | 0.8% |
| Health Volunteers | 714 | 2.1% |
| Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Assistants | 231 | 0.7% |
| Dual Language Kindergarten Teachers | 141 | 0.4% |
| Float Teachers | 153 | 0.5% |
| Kindergarten Lead Teachers | 236 | 0.7% |
| New Hire Coordinators | 237 | 0.7% |
| Kindergarten ESL Teachers | 92 | 0.3% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for kindergarten teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for kindergarten teachers.
How much do kindergarten teachers make?
Kindergarten Teachers: How do you become one?
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