Do you want a career that invests in our nation’s future? Preschool teachers are a major influence in children’s lives. The impact of early childhood education lasts through adulthood. Texas needs more quality individuals to join this essential vocation. It’s a career that makes a difference.
The average annual preschool teacher salary as of May 2023 in Texas is $40110. 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.
In this guide, Teachers of Tomorrow examines the salary of preschool teachers in Texas. We will also discuss the pathways to becoming a preschool educator in the Lone Star State, including alternative teacher certification options.
What Is a Preschool Teacher?
Preschool teachers are professionals in early childhood education. They work with the youngest students, typically ages three and four, but maybe even younger. Early childhood educators have the skills, knowledge, and training to meet young students’ needs, including:
- Childhood cognitive, physical, and emotional development stages.
- How to understand children’s feelings.
- How to recognize a child’s strengths and challenges.
- How to teach through play.
- How to keep children focused and engaged.
- How to raise children’s confidence and independence.
- How to provide a productive learning environment that is safe and fosters exploration.
- How to be a compassionate leader.
Preschool educators are tasked with teaching children many essential skills and knowledge, including:
- Listening skills.
- Foundational literacy skills, such as writing their name and recognizing simple words.
- Social skills, such as taking turns and how to play nicely with other children.
- Emotional development, including how to understand their feelings and respect the feelings of their friends and teachers.
- Communication skills.
- Fine motor skills, including how to use scissors and work buttons.
- Foundational math skills, like counting.
- Problem-solving skills.
Excellence in preschool educators is diverse. However, there are some skills and traits that successful preschool teachers share, including the following:
- Compassion: Adults may envy children’s lives of play. But the world can be hard for young students, who experience frustration and sadness and struggle to regulate their emotions. Successful preschool teachers approach their students with empathy.
- Time management: Not everyone can keep track of their day when surrounded by a bunch of curious and energetic people with little emotional regulation. However, preschool teachers are masters at guiding their students through the day. They ensure the needs of their students and the curriculum are met while staying on schedule.
- Emotional maturity: Young children are still learning to regulate their emotions and what behavior is expected of them. A large part of how they learn these skills is by watching other adults who matter to them. Teachers are leaders that preschoolers look up to and mimic. Educators must be an excellent example, staying calm and collected, even during emergencies.
Preschool teachers have many responsibilities, including:
- Classroom management: Classroom management must create an age-appropriate, safe, welcoming, inclusive, and productive space. Preschool teachers use strategies, techniques, and tools such as classroom layouts, reward charts, job and sheet sheets, and visual schedules.
- Establish routines: Preschool children do best with a routine. Teachers must create a general schedule that includes things like outdoor play, rest, snacks, and lunch. The predictability reduces anxiety, raises confidence, and helps students understand the expected behavior during that period.
- Monitor student progress: Teachers must observe and record students’ progress, noting areas of strength, interest, and challenges. As preschool is a student’s first time in education, some developmental delays or learning challenges may be detected for the first time. Parents and guardians depend on preschool teachers to advise how these matters should be followed up and where to get further assistance if necessary.
- Communicate with essential role players: Preschool teachers are responsible for staying in touch and collaborating with many parties relating to their students. These include parents, guardians, other staff members, social workers, therapists, and community members.
How Much Do Preschool Teachers in Texas Make?
This is the average annual salaries for preschool teachers in Texas as of May 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Highest salary – $64,710
- Average salary – $40,110
- Lowest salary – $24,050
Texas’s preschool teacher salaries depend on location, type of school, and a teacher’s years of experience and qualifications.
Certification Routes for Preschool Teachers in Texas
The rules and regulations for teaching in preschools vary across the country. Teachers must have a high school degree or GED in Texas and pass a background check. However, most schools require at least an associate’s degree in early childhood education.
Preschool candidates who want the best-paying jobs with the greatest potential for future career growth must have a bachelor’s degree and certification. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has a traditional and alternative route to becoming certified. Below are the steps for the traditional pathway.
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree: Texas preschool teaching candidates seeking certification need a degree from an accredited college or university with a 2.5 GPA or higher. Studies should focus on early childhood education, early childhood development, or a related field. Candidates with a GPA below 2.5 can still become preschool teachers. However, they will need to pass the TX PACT exam.
- Complete an Educator Preparation Program: Candidates on the traditional pathway typically use the preparation program provided by their college or university. If they want to switch to a different program, they must use one approved by the TEA.
- Gain classroom experience: Texas teaching candidates are required to gain Field-Based Experience (FBE). These should be done in classrooms at the grade level you wish to teach, such as PreK. Candidates must ensure they are using the most updated rules for FBE classroom. For instance, rules were changed in September 2024.
- Pass relevant exams: The TEA requires teaching candidates to take the relevant tests from the TExES exam series. Preschool candidates looking for advice on which exams to take or need preparation assistance can contact The Learning Liaisons for help.
- Apply for Certification for EC-Grade 6: The application process is done online through the TEAL portal. Be sure to have the necessary documentation and a method of payment.
- Pass a background test: First-time certification applicants must submit fingerprints for a national criminal history background check. The prints are run through the DPS and the FBI.
Alternative Route to Certification for Texas Preschool Teachers
TEA has an alternative route to certification for those who already have a bachelor’s degree but did not go directly into teaching. The pathway saves candidates money, as they won’t have to obtain a second bachelor’s degree. In addition, the alternative pathway is more flexible and will get candidates working in a classroom faster for pay.
To qualify, candidates must:
- Have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited university.
- A 2.5 or higher GPA OR a passing score on the TX PACT exam.
Candidates must choose a TEA–approved provider. Programs are offered through colleges, universities, and independent providers.
Programs vary in cost, flexibility, certification offerings, and schedule. Teachers of Tomorrow’s program uses the following steps:
- Apply for free.
- Begin your flexible, online training at your own pace. (Typically, 4-6 weeks.)
- Pass the TEA pre-hire exams.
- Complete FBE.
- Start your job search.
- Apply for an intern certificate.
- Teach for pay.
- Pass certification exams.
- Apply for full certification.
What Is the Lowest and Highest Paying Preschool Teaching Job?
As a certified preschool teacher in Texas, you can work in various settings:
- Special education: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2023, Texas preschool special education teachers make an average of $46,840. Special education teachers are listed as a “critical shortage” area by the TEA. Texan teaching candidates working in a critical shortage area are eligible to apply for special TEACH grants and loan forgiveness.
- Private schools: Private preschools average slightly higher pay than public schools. However, this depends on the location and type of private school. In some cases, preschool teachers make more at a public school than a private one. The most elite private schools provide the highest preschool salaries.
- Public schools: Texas offers free preschool to families of 3- and 4-year-olds who qualify for assistance. Districts are provided funding so they can offer full and half-day PreK. In addition, the schools can cover the costs of the program by charging tuition to families that don’t qualify for free education. The combined funding allows Texan public schools to offer teaching salaries that are nearly the same as private and, often, come with better benefits.
- Charter schools: Texas charter schools receive less funding, and their teachers are not unionized. Thus, educator salaries tend to be lower than those of public and private schools.
- Online teaching: There is still a demand for virtual teachers in Texas. However, the majority of the jobs are for bilingual or special education preschool teachers.
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