What posibilities for advancement are there at a daycare center or preschool?

Question

I recently graduated with my degree in early childhood education. Where I live, there are limited opportunities in elementary schools, and I love preschoolers, so I am currently persuing a few jobs at the preschool level. Right now, I have no problem only earning $10 or so an hour, but I can't live off of that forever. Once I gain experience, are there any other jobs that I could be promoted to, or should I focus on obtaining employment in an elementary school? What are the higher level positions in a daycare, what is the typical pay and benefits, and how to I become qualified? Thanks!

Answer 1

Advancement is quite limited at daycares and preschools. Generally there are class teachers and the manager or owner and that is it. Due to high turn over and low skill requirements, most facilities replace employees rather than advance them or increase salaries by much. It is very unusual to receive benefit packages or to make much more than minimum wage. If you cannot find employment in a PK-12 public or private school setting as a teacher, consider seeking employment as a teaching assistant --at least you get benefits, can see more of the school operations, and may get future consideration for a teaching position.

Answer 2

quite honestly you'll probably not get 10/hour to start out.  childcare in centers is rather low paying as most staff are not degreed.  the advancement opportunities are limited to assistant director, director, area director.  i would work hard at trying to get into the management end of it if i were you.

Answer 3

I see very little opportunity to make much more money or advancement in the daycare or preschool setting. In my state the going hourly rate is about seven dollars an hour. You can advance to director or own your own school but other than that I see very little opportunities. Also very few if any benefits. If I were younger I would pursue teaching in the elementary grades. Good luck!

Answer 4

Advancement is pretty limited. For example, there were no openings for elementary teachers after I graduated. I subbed for 2 years and then ended up working in a university-affiliated demonstration day care. Awesome place to work, but I had to start out as a child care assistant. I worked there for 3 years with no opportunity to advance because no one left. Finally, the head teacher in my room (also the assistant director) went on maternity leave and I filled her spot for 4 months. That was 1992. Shortly after I left, the center expanded and I likely would have gotten a head teacher position. However, my friend is STILL assistant director and the woman who was the director then is STILL the director. So, I still would not have advanced any further unless I left.

When I did leave (we moved far away), I was hired as a Program Director (basically the assistant director), so if you leave a position you might qualify for a higher position elsewhere.

Many day cares have a lead teacher in each room, an assistant director (usually has teaching duties as well) and a director. In my experience, the first two positions just require more years of experience rather than further training. Sometimes that's true for a director's position, too, but often a director has a degree in day care administration or some related field in addition to ECE.

Check into pre-K programs in school districts near you and you might also look into teaching Head Start.