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
- Pre-Kindergarten Teachers
- Prekindergarten Teachers
- Transitional Kindergarten Teachers
- Bilingual Kindergarten Teachers
- Kindergarten/Elementary Teachers
- Elementary School Teachers
- Classroom Teachers
- Kindergarten/1st Grade Teachers
- Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teachers
- Long Term Substitute Kindergarten Teachers
- Dual Language Kindergarten Teachers
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): 80.4%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 15.8%
- Religious Organizations: 2.1%
- Child Day Care Services: 1%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 0.4%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 0.1%
- Other: 0.19999999999999%
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 2023, about 80.4% of all jobs for kindergarten teachers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (15.8%), Religious Organizations (2.1%), Child Day Care Services (1%), 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 9,066 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Kindergarten Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Planning | 3,236 | 36% |
| Early Childhood Education | 1,690 | 19% |
| Classroom Management | 1,591 | 18% |
| Child Development | 1,387 | 15% |
| Curriculum Development | 1,018 | 11% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Kindergarten Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 4,627 | 51% |
| Communication | 2,912 | 32% |
| Planning | 1,534 | 17% |
| Research | 1,342 | 15% |
| Writing | 1,223 | 13% |
Based on 9,066 job postings related to kindergarten teachers, lesson planning was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 36% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for early childhood education, classroom management, child development, curriculum development 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 communication, planning, research, writing and mathematics.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Planning | 3,236 | 36% |
| Early Childhood Education | 1,690 | 19% |
| Classroom Management | 1,591 | 18% |
| Child Development | 1,387 | 15% |
| Curriculum Development | 1,018 | 11% |
| Learning Styles | 924 | 10% |
| Primary Education | 780 | 9% |
| Special Education | 758 | 8% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 711 | 8% |
| Educational Assessment | 650 | 7% |
| Instructional Strategies | 611 | 7% |
| Differentiated Instruction | 561 | 6% |
| Preschool Education | 556 | 6% |
| Effective Communication | 455 | 5% |
| Small Group Instruction | 442 | 5% |
| Social Studies | 431 | 5% |
| Office Equipment | 400 | 4% |
| Organizational Communications | 389 | 4% |
| Student Engagement | 364 | 4% |
| Pedagogy | 358 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 4,627 | 51% |
| Communication | 2,912 | 32% |
| Planning | 1,534 | 17% |
| Research | 1,342 | 15% |
| Writing | 1,223 | 13% |
| Mathematics | 1,154 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,102 | 12% |
| Progress Reporting | 806 | 9% |
| Parent Communication | 744 | 8% |
| Problem Solving | 734 | 8% |
| Leadership | 729 | 8% |
| English Language | 721 | 8% |
| Management | 682 | 8% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 631 | 7% |
| Multilingualism | 561 | 6% |
| Enthusiasm | 508 | 6% |
| Lifting Ability | 469 | 5% |
| Professionalism | 468 | 5% |
| Literacy | 440 | 5% |
| Innovation | 415 | 5% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Kindergarten Teachers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | 14,059 | 53.1% |
| Pre-Kindergarten Teachers | 7,688 | 29.1% |
| Prekindergarten Teachers | 758 | 2.9% |
| Transitional Kindergarten Teachers | 698 | 2.6% |
| Bilingual Kindergarten Teachers | 350 | 1.3% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was kindergarten teachers, with 4,591 unique job postings. Pre-kindergarten teachers were second, with 282 postings, followed by prekindergarten teachers, transitional kindergarten teachers and bilingual kindergarten teachers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to kindergarten teachers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | 14,059 | 53.1% |
| Pre-Kindergarten Teachers | 7,688 | 29.1% |
| Prekindergarten Teachers | 758 | 2.9% |
| Transitional Kindergarten Teachers | 698 | 2.6% |
| Bilingual Kindergarten Teachers | 350 | 1.3% |
| Kindergarten/Elementary Teachers | 539 | 2% |
| Elementary School Teachers | 323 | 1.2% |
| Classroom Teachers | 284 | 1.1% |
| Kindergarten/1st Grade Teachers | 202 | 0.8% |
| Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teachers | 488 | 1.8% |
| Long Term Substitute Kindergarten Teachers | 144 | 0.5% |
| Dual Language Kindergarten Teachers | 77 | 0.3% |
| Elementary Classroom Teachers | 79 | 0.3% |
| Kindergarten Lead Teachers | 377 | 1.4% |
| Elementary Teachers | 44 | 0.2% |
| Leave Replacement Teachers | 35 | 0.1% |
| Kindergarten Assistants | 108 | 0.4% |
| 2nd Grade Elementary Teachers | 49 | 0.2% |
| Early Childhood Instructors | 130 | 0.5% |
| Enrichment Teachers | 26 | 0.1% |
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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