{"id":47392,"date":"2025-02-16T18:14:26","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T00:14:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/?p=47392"},"modified":"2025-02-16T18:14:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T00:14:26","slug":"how-much-does-a-preschool-teacher-make-in-north-carolina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/blog\/insights\/how-much-does-a-preschool-teacher-make-in-north-carolina\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does a Preschool Teacher Make in North Carolina?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preschool teachers are daily witnesses to the magical period of childhood. The students have big hearts, are excited about discovery, and are full of wonder. It&#8217;s also a time of rapid development requiring social, cognitive, and physical guidance. North Carolina is always looking for more qualified professionals to work in this valuable vocation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The average preschool teacher salary in North Carolina as of May 2023 was $34,460. 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.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teachers of Tomorrow<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will review North Carolina&#8217;s preschool teacher salaries in this guide. We&#8217;ll also explore the state&#8217;s pathways to becoming a preschool teacher, including <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/alternate-teacher-certification\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alternative teacher certification options<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"592\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47497\" src=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/media\/preschool_teacher_in_norhtcarolina.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Is a Preschool Teacher?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preschool teachers work with the youngest students, ages 3 to 5. The highest demand is for preschool educators is in PreK, where students are at least 4 years old. Due to the students being so young, preschool teachers must create a nurturing environment and teach through play, fun activities, and songs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education (NC DCDEE) oversees the state&#8217;s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov\/Home\/DCDEE-Sections\/North-Carolina-Pre-Kindergarten-NC-Pre-K\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NC PreK Program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In 2022-2023, around 21% of the state&#8217;s 4-year-olds were enrolled in a public PreK program. Preschool teachers working in the NC PreK Program are tasked to prepare students in 5 critical developmental domains:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approaches to learning and play.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physical and health development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communication and language development.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social and emotional development.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cognitive development.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Successful preschool teachers adore interacting with this unique age group, which requires a great deal of attention. Other traits found in quality preschool educators include:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Patience<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Preschool students are full of energy, have short attention spans, and are still developing basic skills such as verbal, listening, cooperation, and taking turns. Thus, it takes clear communication and empathy to guide them through instructions and good behavior choices.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Passion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Nobody goes into teaching for wealth. However, preschool teachers are paid the least compared to K-12 educators. Working with this vulnerable, curious, and busy age group requires a calling.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Adaptability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Young children take the best-made plans and turn them sideways. An excellent preschool teacher modifies lessons and activities in the moment while keeping calm.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preschool teachers have many responsibilities, including the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Help children with their development in critical areas, such as fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, reasoning, and cooperation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a daily schedule that promotes learning through play, crafts, songs, and other engaging activities.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide a warm and welcoming classroom where children feel safe and happy.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Much Do Preschool Teachers Make in North Carolina?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The average annual salaries for preschool teachers in North Carolina as of May 2023, according to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/oes\/current\/oes252011.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Highest salary &#8211; $45,010<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Average salary \u2013 $34,120<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lowest salary &#8211; $24,120<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preschool teaching salaries vary in North Carolina depending on the district, type of school, and the teacher&#8217;s years of experience, education level, and special skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1015\" height=\"636\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/media\/north_carolina_preschool_wages.png\" alt=\"\"><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How To Become a Preschool Teacher in North Carolina<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The process of becoming a preschool teacher varies across the United States. North Carolina&#8217;s pathways are similar to those for candidates wanting to teach K-12.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Carolina&#8217;s traditional pathway to becoming a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov\/Portals\/0\/documents\/pdf\/N\/NCPre-K_LEAD_TEACHER_ELIGIBILITY_DETERMINATION_CHART.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">licensed lead preschool teacher<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> involves the following steps:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Obtain a bachelor&#8217;s degree. <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncdhhs.gov\/sl-2023-134-section-9d1f-annual-pre-k-program-report\/download?attachment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">98% of North Carolina&#8217;s lead preschool teachers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have a bachelor&#8217;s degree, even if they work in the private sector. Candidates should select a degree in early childhood or a similar area of study, such as child and family development.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Complete a teacher preparation program: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most candidates on the traditional pathway use the program provided by their college or university. For those needing one that offers Birth-Kindergarten training, see the state&#8217;s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov\/Portals\/0\/documents\/pdf\/E\/EES_Approved_EPP_Listing_OCT2024.pdf?ver=M3C9zs-9UZ8PWlFivoRaVA%3d%3d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approved Educator Preparation Programs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> list.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pass all relevant exams: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Praxis II: Earth Childhood Content Knowledge Exam is a common requirement for preschool teachers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Submit license application<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Use the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vo.licensure.ncpublicschools.gov\/datamart\/loginNCDPI.do;jsessionid=Th7Mq509nJq_UsKtfmWIJs7h7pplvJPgzM2thAyP.i-073bdbd83fe0c5e0c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NCDPI Online Licensure System<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Apply for Preschool teaching positions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To help you start your job hunt, check out the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dpi.nc.gov\/educators\/work-nc-schools\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NCDPI Work for NC Schools page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Obtain the correct background check: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As of November 2024, North Carolina does not require all teachers to have a background check. However,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov\/Home\/DCDEE-Sections\/Criminal-Background-Check-Unit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> background checks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are required for anyone working in a licensed childcare facility. Also, some schools require background checks, regardless of state law. Candidates must find out the requirements for their hiring school.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alternative Route to Certification for Preschool Teachers<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Carolina has <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov\/Home\/DCDEE-Sections\/Early-Educator-Support-EES\/Employment-and-Eligibility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alternative ways<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for individuals to obtain an NC Residency Birth-Kindergarten license. Most require a BA or BS, but there are options for those with an associate&#8217;s degree. Some require enrolling in an educator preparation program, such as the one provided by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/northcarolina\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teachers of Tomorrow<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The steps to becoming licensed through the alternative pathway depend on a candidate&#8217;s education, their degree major, GPA, and if they have any experience working in an NC school. Candidates interested should consult the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov\/Portals\/0\/documents\/pdf\/N\/NCPre-K_LEAD_TEACHER_ELIGIBILITY_DETERMINATION_CHART.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NC PreK Lead Teacher Employment Eligibility Determination Chart.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the Highest and Lowest Paying Preschool Teaching Job?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Carolina preschool teachers work in the following educational settings:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Special education<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: These roles require extra training and education. However, there is a nationwide shortage of teachers working in special education, especially in early childhood. Consequently, the pay is greater than those with a standard preschool teacher&#8217;s qualification.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Private schools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: North Carolina&#8217;s private preschools often offer working parents other perks, such as daycare. There is also more variety of learning approaches, such as Montessori or Waldorf. Thus, even families planning to send their children to public school may use a private preschool.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Public schools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: North Carolina offers preschool through the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov\/Home\/DCDEE-Sections\/North-Carolina-Pre-Kindergarten-NC-Pre-K\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NC PreK program,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but the funding is less than what they give per student for kindergarten. The majority of students who attend are from low-income households.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Charter schools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Charter schools often face funding challenges for PreK similar to those experienced by public schools, which reduces preschool teacher salaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Online teaching<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Online learning has remained popular since the pandemic, but there isn&#8217;t a high demand for PreK. While these positions are rarer and don&#8217;t pay as high, they often come with flexible hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1017\" height=\"709\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/media\/north_carolina_preschool_salary.png\" alt=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teachers of Tomorrow<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we look forward to supporting you in becoming a preschool teacher in North Carolina. Contact us now and begin your journey towards a fulfilling and life-changing vocation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Related Teaching Careers<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/blog\/insights\/online-teaching-jobs-from-home-2024-guide-to-best-online-teaching-careers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online Teaching Jobs from Home<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/blog\/insights\/kindergarten-teacher-requirements-and-skill-sets\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Does a Kindergarten Teacher Do?<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/texas\/teacher-resources\/high-need-areas\/special-education\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Special Education Teachers in Texas Are in High Demand<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Related Articles\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/blog\/insights\/how-much-does-an-elementary-teacher-make-in-north-carolina\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Much Does an Elementary Teacher Make in North Carolina?<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/blog\/insights\/how-much-does-a-middle-school-teacher-make-in-north-carolina\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Much Does a Middle School Teacher Make in North Carolina?<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/blog\/insights\/how-much-does-a-high-school-teacher-make-in-north-carolina\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Much Does a High School Teacher Make in North Carolina?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Preschool teachers are daily witnesses to the magical period of childhood. The students have big hearts, are excited about discovery, and are full of wonder. It&#8217;s also a time of &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":72,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-insights"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2025-03-01 04:33:07","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category"},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/72"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47392"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47392\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47498,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47392\/revisions\/47498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}