What Do Pre-K Teachers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for pre-k teachers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what pre-k 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.
Pre-K Teachers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about pre-k teachers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Pre-K Teachers instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
Popular Job Titles For Pre-K Teachers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Preschool Teachers
- Teachers
- Child Care Teachers
- Preschool Teacher Assistants
- Early Childhood Teachers
- Toddler Teachers
- Infant/Toddler Teachers
- Infant Teachers
- After School Teachers
- Daycare Teachers
- Lead Teachers
- Pre-K Teachers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for pre-k teachers can be found.
Best Industries for Pre-K Teachers
Pre-K Teachers Jobs By Industry
- Child Day Care Services: 62.7%
- Religious Organizations: 11.8%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 10.5%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 6.1%
- Individual and Family Services: 2.7%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 1.4%
- Other: 4.8%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of pre-k teachers can be found working in the Child Day Care Services sector. In 2022, about 62.7% of all jobs for pre-k teachers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Religious Organizations (11.8%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (10.5%), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6.1%), Individual and Family Services (2.7%) and Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (1.4%).
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What Do Pre-K Teachers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what pre-k 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 pre-k 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 pre-k teachers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for pre-k teachers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Pre-K Teachers
Based on 241,792 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Pre-K Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Education | 91,755 | 38% |
| Child Development | 75,318 | 31% |
| Lesson Planning | 45,162 | 19% |
| Early Childhood Education | 36,545 | 15% |
| Working With Children | 22,476 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Pre-K Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 89,940 | 37% |
| Communications | 59,695 | 25% |
| Leadership | 32,688 | 14% |
| Planning | 31,633 | 13% |
| Patience | 26,799 | 11% |
Based on 241,792 job postings related to pre-k teachers, preschool education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 38% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for child development, lesson planning, early childhood education, working with children and classroom management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for pre-k teachers, followed by communications, leadership, planning, patience and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Education | 91,755 | 38% |
| Child Development | 75,318 | 31% |
| Lesson Planning | 45,162 | 19% |
| Early Childhood Education | 36,545 | 15% |
| Working With Children | 22,476 | 9% |
| Classroom Management | 20,953 | 9% |
| Interactive Learning | 14,394 | 6% |
| Diaper Changing | 11,012 | 5% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 9,897 | 4% |
| Head Start (Education Program) | 9,849 | 4% |
| Special Education | 8,568 | 4% |
| Curriculum Development | 8,199 | 3% |
| Housekeeping | 8,160 | 3% |
| Developmental Psychology | 6,670 | 3% |
| Early Head Start (Education Program) | 5,998 | 2% |
| Primary Education | 5,393 | 2% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 5,229 | 2% |
| Toileting | 4,994 | 2% |
| Child Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 4,518 | 2% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 4,473 | 2% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 89,940 | 37% |
| Communications | 59,695 | 25% |
| Leadership | 32,688 | 14% |
| Planning | 31,633 | 13% |
| Patience | 26,799 | 11% |
| English Language | 25,153 | 10% |
| Lifting Ability | 21,010 | 9% |
| Writing | 16,127 | 7% |
| Management | 14,357 | 6% |
| Parent Communication | 13,805 | 6% |
| Customer Service | 13,038 | 5% |
| Organizational Skills | 12,720 | 5% |
| Research | 11,442 | 5% |
| Multitasking | 10,882 | 5% |
| Problem Solving | 10,804 | 4% |
| Enthusiasm | 10,269 | 4% |
| Energetic | 10,180 | 4% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 10,163 | 4% |
| First Aid | 9,859 | 4% |
| Record Keeping | 9,777 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Pre-K Teachers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 84,330 | 17.9% |
| Teachers | 87,984 | 18.7% |
| Child Care Teachers | 52,649 | 11.2% |
| Preschool Teacher Assistants | 36,784 | 7.8% |
| Early Childhood Teachers | 29,001 | 6.2% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was preschool teachers, with 30,447 unique job postings. Teachers were second, with 19,012 postings, followed by child care teachers, preschool teacher assistants and early childhood teachers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to pre-k teachers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 84,330 | 17.9% |
| Teachers | 87,984 | 18.7% |
| Child Care Teachers | 52,649 | 11.2% |
| Preschool Teacher Assistants | 36,784 | 7.8% |
| Early Childhood Teachers | 29,001 | 6.2% |
| Toddler Teachers | 24,560 | 5.2% |
| Infant/Toddler Teachers | 21,170 | 4.5% |
| Infant Teachers | 25,085 | 5.3% |
| After School Teachers | 18,478 | 3.9% |
| Daycare Teachers | 15,144 | 3.2% |
| Lead Teachers | 11,512 | 2.4% |
| Pre-K Teachers | 7,846 | 1.7% |
| Head Start Teachers | 6,572 | 1.4% |
| Child Care Assistant Teachers | 8,891 | 1.9% |
| Preschool Lead Teachers | 9,374 | 2% |
| School Age Teachers | 7,316 | 1.6% |
| Before and After School Teachers | 6,571 | 1.4% |
| Pre-Kindergarten Teachers | 6,215 | 1.3% |
| Early Childhood Educators | 6,338 | 1.3% |
| Toddler/Preschool Teachers | 5,506 | 1.2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for pre-k teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for pre-k teachers.
How much do pre-k teachers make?
Pre-K Teachers: How do you become one?
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