Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education fall under the Education, Training, and Library category in the U.S. occupational classification. Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education earn a median salary of $62,680 per year, ranking in the top 47% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.3% job growth through 2035, projected to lose jobs through 2035. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do kindergarten teachers, except special education earn?

The median annual wage for kindergarten teachers, except special education is $62,680. That puts kindergarten teachers, except special education at #391 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is kindergarten teachers, except special education a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for kindergarten teachers, except special education is -0.3%, projected to lose jobs through 2035. Employment is projected to move from approximately 111K positions in 2024 to 110K in 2034, a net change of <1K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do kindergarten teachers, except special education do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working kindergarten teachers, except special education, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Identify children showing signs of emotional, developmental, or health-related problems and discuss them with supervisors, parents or guardians, and child development specialists.
2. 2.Prepare children for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
3. 3.Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
4. 4.Involve parent volunteers and older students in children's activities to facilitate involvement in focused, complex play.
5. 5.Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
6. 6.Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
7. 7.Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of kindergarten programs.
8. 8.Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.

Top skills for kindergarten teachers, except special education

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become kindergarten teachers, except special education?

The standard path into kindergarten teachers, except special education begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
  $61,540 median
• Farm and Home Management Educators
  $60,220 median
• Museum Technicians and Conservators
  $51,440 median
• Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other
  $50,890 median
• Self-Enrichment Teachers
  $46,800 median
• Library Technicians
  $44,580 median

Common questions parents ask about kindergarten teachers, except special education