Specializin in Early Childhood Education?

Question

I was told that if i majored in early childhood education that i should specialize in something because the pay would be better? Well i was talking to a teacher, and she said that thats not true. Then again shes an accounting teacher not a daycare teacher. But basically what i'm asking is-- is it true?

Answer 1

I owned and operated a daycare for five years while obtaining my ECE degree (in home but, licensed). I currently work for a school district as a preschool teacher.

ECE is a very hard job that requires a lot of love, understanding, dedication and patience. It also requires that you think education children is more important than the money that you make. Also, you must have thick skin, because it is a very thankless job. But very important at the same time, you are responsible for introducing education in a fun and positive manner that will encourage future learning experiences.

Special Education makes more money, so does high school..and especially if you have a master's.

Oh...I made 15,000 more last year with my in home daycare than I did working full time for a high paying school district. As much as I LOVE children and teaching it isn't paying my bills or affording me the lifestyle I like. I am currently back in school for nursing, and plan on majoring in anesthesia. I won't be returning to the school district next year, instead I am going back to the dealership I worked at as a teen and early twenties, making $5 more an hour than I currently do; utilizing my hard earned degree.

EDIT: Not trying to be mean...but I wouldn't take advice from people who claim to have a dual degree but cannot spell simple four letter words, they're lying. Also...as a school teacher for a school district or even private school you do not get paid for the summer unless you choose to have a certain percentage taken out of each check to cover your "summer pay." Most school districts have two salary summaries...one is for the summer off w/o pay , so your weekly checks are bigger right away. Or the summer off w/ pay, and your weekly checks are a bit smaller, but you get the same amount bi weekly all year long.

I have a BA in ECE with a minor in Psychology.

I make bring home $562 weekly; all year long...(after taxes) or I could have had 730.60 per week, with 12 weeks unpaid summer vacation. That is just under $30,000 a year. I also graduated at the top of my class, I was the valedictorian with a 4.2 :) Hope I helped.

Answer 2

that is true. early childhood education is the lowest paying of the education fields. if you plan on getting a degree in ECE, you should consider double majoring in another education field. some people i know even tripled it, doing ECE, Elementary Education and Special Education. Day care teachers do not get paid very well at all compared to a regular public school teacher.

really, your choices are a LOT more limited by not having a state certification or duel major (like Early Childhood and Elementary Education). i was talking to the director of a NAEYC accredited preschool in my town who hired a girl with only a bachelors in ECE. the director said this girl did NOT realize that she couldn't get a regular teaching job. ECE is supposed to encompass teaching up through Grade 3, but without state certification, you can't teach in a school. this girl is stuck teaching at this preschool (the best one in town) where she's hourly, no pension, no summer pay....

i enjoy working for Head Start, but am hoping to get into the public school. Head Start is not at all like being a public school teacher. when you're hourly, you don't get paid all summer (i just got another promotion this year, which made me salary, so now i get paid year round). but i only make $24,440 (after 3.5 years) compared to a starting salary in a public school around here being around $30,000. when i started, i made around $13/hour, which sounds like a lot just coming out of college, but it's not so much when you're paying 15% of your health insurance and don't have a retirement plan.

plus, there is NOT the great pension/retirement plan like a public school teacher gets. i love my job. i love the age and group of kids i work with. but in the long run, it's not realistic as a lifelong career. i'm very grateful that i got my Elementary and Early Childhood degrees and certification. hopefully i can get a job in the public school after i have my next baby and he/she is 5. : )

i strongly advise you to get duel certification. talk to you academic adviser at school and see what fits your interests and goals.

Answer 3

well the answer is true, yes you will get payed better if you go into something else...but my question is for you...will you enjoy that job as much as taking ECE? will you love it as much, dont go for a job just because u will make more money u will regret it believe me.

its unfortunate that as ece's we dont make too much money, but hopefully one day that will change.

if you love working with kids but want to make more money, instead of working in daycares, how about become a childrens teacher? thats what im doing...i love working in daycares, but i wanna be able to teach...so im doing that, and it is slightly better pay.

please dont be turned off the feild of work just because of the pay...if u love your job that will pay for itself!

believe me!!! :)

Answer 4

That depends on what you might want to specialize in.  Go for a 4 year degree.  It will qualify you for certification in your field and that will allow you to earn more money.  Your 4 year degree can be in Elementary Education with Early Childhood, and you could add Special Education to it, or minor in a language (Spanish would probably be a good choice for the area you live in) since you may be dealing with ESL learners.  Pre-K programs are becoming very widespread, and most of them will require certification in Elem. Ed. with Early Childhood.  They will be the better paying programs to work for, so even if it's not available to families in your area, yet, get that 4 year degree!  You'll be glad you did.