Do you want a career working with some of the most curious minds? Teaching preschool is one of the most rewarding vocations and comes with many hugs. Florida is looking for more qualified individuals to join this dynamic career.
The average annual preschool teacher salary as of May 2023 in Florida is $34,010. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession.
Teachers of Tomorrow will highlight the salary ranges at various Florida preschool settings. We’ll also go over the multiple ways to qualify as a teacher at a Florida preschool, such as becoming a certified educator through the traditional or alternative teacher pathway.
What Is a Preschool Teacher?
Preschool teachers work with students between the ages of 3 and 5 and help prepare them for kindergarten. Children are taught basic educational concepts, such as counting and colors, but the focus is on developing their mental, social, and emotional skills. The bulk of learning is done through guided play and activities.
Skills preschoolers work on include:
- How to wash hands.
- How to work a button and zipper.
- How to follow directions.
- How to talk using an indoor voice.
- How to be a good friend.
There is no one way to be a fantastic preschool teacher. However, successful educators of this age group do share some traits, including the following:
- Creative: It takes a lot of imagination and ingenuity to find ways to teach lessons through play. Activities have to be fun, engaging, and have a purpose.
- Kind: Preschoolers are still highly dependent on caregivers for all their needs, including emotional support and empathy.
- Energetic: Young people are highly active and enjoy using their bodies. Songs and play often include lots of movement. As their leader, teachers must be able to keep up with their students’ go-go.
Preschool teachers have many responsibilities, including:
- Create a safe, productive, and nurturing environment. Preschool classrooms take a lot of time and thought to prepare. There must be various areas to play, rest, eat, and do multiple activities. The ambiance of the spaces must be fun and welcoming without creating unnecessary distractions.
- Planning curriculum-based activities: Whether it is songs, craft projects, or fun games, all “play activities” need to be planned ahead of time to ensure the curriculum is covered.
- Communicate with parents and caregivers: Families need to be updated on their child’s progress and challenges to ensure everyone works together to meet the child’s needs.
How Much Do Preschool Teachers in Florida Make?
This is the average annual salaries for preschool teachers in Florida as of May 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Highest salary – $45,920
- Average salary – $30,900
- Lowest salary – $24,920
Florida’s preschool teachers vary. Factors include the type of school and area in the state, the teacher’s qualifications, and years of experience.
How to Become a Preschool Teacher in Florida
US Rules and regulations for preschool teachers vary across the country. In Florida, the requirements depend on what type of preschool or childcare facility a candidate wants to work for and the age range. Depending on a candidate’s choice, they can teach with an associate’s degree or bachelor’s and/or obtain an approved Florida child care credential.
Florida Child Care Standards for Staff Credential
Florida preschools fall under the umbrella of child care and are overseen by the Florida Department of Children and Families. Staff providing child care or education must meet the state’s Child Care Standards.
All childcare professionals are required to have one approved credential or qualification that is offered from the four categories:
- One of the five approved National Early Childhood Credential (NECC)
- One of the approved Formal Educational Qualifications
- One of the three Birth through Five Child Credential
- One of the two School-Age Child Care Credential
While the state only requires staff to have one of the above, some schools or institutions may have a preference.
Florida’s VPK Instructor Requirements
Florida is one of the country’s front runners in PreK education. Since the 2005-6 school year, they have offered free PreK to all 4-year-olds, regardless of their family’s income status. They offer a school-year program and a summer program, and class sizes are small.
Preschool teachers who want to be a VPK instructor for the school year must have the following:
- A Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal Background screening that is less than 5 years old.
- An associate’s degree or higher in child development
- An Affidavit of Good Moral Character.
- Have one of the following 4 qualifications:
a. One of the five approved National Early Childhood Credential (NECC)
b. An associate’s degree or higher in child development
c. An associate’s degree or higher in any field WITH 6 credit hours or more in early childhood educator or child development, AND 480+ experience in teaching or childcare for children between birth to 8 years old.
d. A bachelor’s degree in elementary education and certified to teach children from birth to 6th grade.
If a preschool teacher wants to be a Summer VPK Instructor, they must have the following:
- A Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal Background screening that is less than 5 years old.
- An associate’s degree or higher in child development
- An Affidavit of Good Moral Character.
- Have one of the following 3 qualifications:
a. A bachelor’s degree or higher in early childhood education, prekindergarten, primary education, preschool education, or family and consumer science.
b. A bachelor’s degree in elementary education and certified to teach children from birth to 6th grade.
c. A valid Florida Educator Certificate.
Pathways to a Florida Educator Certification
Florida allows preschool teachers to work in some preschool classrooms without having educator certification. However, there are many advantages to preschool candidates who do apply for their PreKindergarten/Primary Education Certification (age 3-3rd grade).
The advantages of being a certified preschool teacher in Florida include the following:
- Widens job opportunities.
- Helps you stand out from other job applicants.
- Higher up in the pay scale.
- Allows candidates to teach up to third grade. Teaching K-3 pays better than preschool.
- Could lead to future opportunities, such as being a director of a preschool or child care center.
Florida’s traditional pathway to becoming a certified early childhood educator involves the following steps:
1. Obtain a bachelor’s degree. Florida candidates wanting to teach preschool or young elementary students are advised to study Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
Other recommended studies include:
- Pre-Kindergarten or Primary Education
- Preschool Education
- Family and Consumer Sciences
- Exceptional Student Education
- Special Education
- Mental Disabilities
- Specific Learning Disabilities
- Physically Impaired
- Varying Exceptionalities
- Emotional Disabilities
- Visually Impaired
- Hearing Impaired
Speech-Language Pathology - Elementary Education
2. Obtain teaching experience. Candidates must complete a state-approved student teaching program in a Florida classroom.
3. Pass the required exams. Florida teachers must pass the relevant Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE). Need help preparing for test day? Check out The Learning Liaisons.
4. Pass a background check. Florida requires a background check for certification or to work in any childcare center or school. For full instructions, visit the Florida Department of Education website.
5. Apply for certification. Candidates can apply online for their Florida education certification.
Alternative Routes to Certification for Florida Preschool Teachers
You can still become certified to teach preschool even if you have obtained a bachelor’s degree in a subject area not geared toward education. Nor do you have to go back to college or university. Florida’s alternative route allows candidates to attend a teacher preparation program
What Is the Lowest and Highest Paying Preschool Teaching Job?
As a certified preschool teacher in Florida, you can work in various settings:
- Special education: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2023, Florida preschool special education teachers make an average of $56,720. These teachers are in high demand across the nation, including in Florida. The extra training required to become a special education teacher, combined with the difficulty of filling these positions, has raised salaries.
- Private schools: Private school salaries can be some of the best and some of the worst. Tiny, religious operations typically pay the least. Those attached to elite education institutions or offering excellent daycare tend to pay the best.
- Public schools: Unlike many states, Florida’s VPK program is free to all 4-year-olds in the state, regardless of income. They also cap classes to 11 students with one instructor and 20 if there are two. The accessibility of these publicly funded preschools combined with small classes makes them a more popular choice. Consequently, teacher salaries are competitive with private offerings.
- Charter schools: Florida’s VPK programs are sometimes held in charter schools instead of public schools. The decision depends on many factors, including which facility has the best space to host these small classes. Thus, the pay range for PreK preschool charter teachers is nearly identical to that of public school teachers.
- Online teaching: There is less demand for online preschool teachers than in the higher grades. Consequently, the jobs are scarce, and the pay is low. However, they sometimes come with flexible hours, which can be a huge advantage to some teachers.
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