Jobs with an early childhood education degree

If you enjoy working with children, helping them learn or giving them a head start on their lives and education, you may want to consider pursuing an early childhood education degree. Early childhood educators, in particular, work with children early on in their education and can help give them the best possible chance to succeed in school and beyond. Looking for another perk? Most teachers and other educators get the summer months off from work and may have the ability to take off mornings and afternoons if they teach very young kids.

Now is also an interesting time to enter this field. The coronavirus pandemic has sparked many changes and opportunities for those considering a career as an educator. There may be opportunities to teach virtually or in person, or a hybrid of both.

Read on to learn what you may potentially achieve with an early childhood education degree or another type of bachelor’s degree in education, as well as the earning potential, on average, for various career paths, according to government surveys.

First and foremost, earning an early childhood education degree may open doors for you in teaching and related fields. A degree may be a prerequisite, depending on the level at which you wish to work. Even teaching at the preschool level generally requires a bachelor’s degree, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests. Leaders supervising children as part of a day care program typically have a degree as well.

Early childhood education is a great way to start your career. You’ll likely teach young children (up to third graders) how to do basic math, read and form friendships. You could play an influential role in child development for a dozen kids at a time or potentially more!

Teaching in early childhood can also be very rewarding beyond the skills you impart, as this child development phase is crucial for early learning and social skills. Early childhood education is a career that needs candidates who want to make a positive impact on children’s lives for years to come.

Whether you’re in special education, a Head Start teacher, an elementary school teacher or a kindergarten educator, there are a number of career options in early childhood education. As of May 2023, it's reported elementary school teachers, except special education, earned between $46,960 and $104,440, with a median wage of $63,680, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of University of Phoenix. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. University of Phoenix does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.

Head Start teachers do just that — give young children an essential head start on their education and a happy, healthy life. Some kids need an extra boost, because of either their community’s lack of resources or their family’s situation. A Head Start educator can end up making the difference between a child moving forward in school or being held back because they haven’t mastered the alphabet, basic math or other early childhood education concepts. If you enjoy helping children succeed, this career can be rewarding far beyond a paycheck.

As a preschool teacher, you’ll help young children learn about the world around them and teach them some basic concepts that will get them ready for proper schooling, such as understanding colors, shapes and possibly even the alphabet. These learning activities are designed to help preschool-age children develop the necessary skills for growth.

As of May 2023, preschool teachers made between $28,200 and $60,900 annually, with a median wage of $37,130 (although salaries vary by experience and location), as BLS points out. Salaries and job opportunities for this career can vary by state and location, and a degree may be required to hold some state certifications.

Kindergarten and elementary school teachers earned between $46,960 and $104,440, with a median salary of $63,670 in May 2023, according to BLS. Best of all, you’ll be with children during some of their most foundational years (kindergarten through fifth grade). And you may teach them everything from storytelling to multiplication tables to basic American history.

This period of a child’s life is typically one of the busiest for learning and development — and you can be right there alongside them with a Bachelor of Science in Education or Early Childhood Education degree.

Our Bachelor of Science in Education or Early Childhood Education degree program can help set you on a career track in this rewarding field. You will not only learn many of the skills you need to pursue a role at a preschool or kindergarten, but you will touch on the following key aspects of early childhood as well:

• Early childhood growth and development
• Instructional strategies
• Assessment and evaluation
• Community and family engagement
• Ethics and social responsibility

Early childhood education degree program graduates will be prepared to learn the skills to instruct young children up to third grade. Special education professionals earned between $47,520 and $106,290, with a median salary of $65,910 in May 2023, according to BLS. Elementary school teachers can earn just shy of that, as the BLS indicates.

Look for roles with the keywords "child development," "early childhood," "preschool," "young children," "kindergarten," "childcare," "special education" or "educator" in general.