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Early Childhood Educator Salary in the United States
How much does an Early Childhood Educator make in the United States?
$42,983 (USD)/year
Average Bonus
$718 (USD)
per Year
Total Compensation
$43,247.82
Entry Level
$32,752
Median
$42,530
Senior Level
$47,994
As of July, 23, 2026, the average early childhood educator gross salary in United States is $42,983 or an equivalent hourly rate of $21. In addition, early childhood educators earn an average bonus of $718. An entry level early childhood educator with 1-3 years of experience earns an average salary of $32,752. At the higher end of the pay range, an senior level early childhood educator with 8+ years of experience earns an average salary of $47,994. Salary estimates are based on salary survey data collected directly from employers in United States.
Data powered by ERI
Salary Potential for an Early Childhood Educator
Explore the estimated salary growth for an Early Childhood Educator in the United States for up to 5 years. The estimated salary of an Early Childhood Educator will be $44,092 in 1 year and $48,822 in 5 years.
View Salary by Year
Estimated Salary
$45,230
Average Growth
5.2 %
The estimated salary for an Early Childhood Educator in 2 years is $45,230, which is 5.2 % average growth. This information is based on ERI's compensation database.
Typical Early Childhood Educator Education
This chart displays the highest level of education for Early Childhood Educators.
- 0% of Early Childhood Educators have less than a High School Diploma
- 14% of Early Childhood Educators have a High School Diploma
- 19% of Early Childhood Educators have an Associate's Degree
- 45% of Early Childhood Educators have a Bachelor's Degree
- 20% of Early Childhood Educators have a Master's Degree
- 1% of Early Childhood Educators have a Doctorate Degree
Popular Skills for an Early Childhood Educator
Instructs children
92%
Establishes policies
33%
These are the most popular skills for Early Childhood Educators. About 92% of Early Childhood Educators have a skill in Instructs children.
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Early Childhood Educator Salaries in Other Locations
Salaries for Similar Job Titles in the United States
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Early Childhood Educator Jobs
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does an Early Childhood Educator do?
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth. Excludes “Special Education Teachers” (25-2050), “Substitute Teachers, Short-Term” (25-3031), and “Childcare Workers” (39-9011).
How much does an Early Childhood Educator make in the United States?
The average salary for an Early Childhood Educator is $42,983 per year or $20.66 per hour in the United States. Top earners have reported making up to $47,994. However, the typical pay range in the United States is between $32,752 and $47,994 annually.
What is the salary trajectory for an Early Childhood Educator?
Early Childhood Educator is projected to see a 13.6 % salary change in 5 years.
How can you increase your salary?
Increasing your salary often starts with understanding your value in today’s job market. You can increase your earning potential by building your skills, advancing your education, moving into a new role or industry, switching companies, or negotiating pay.
How can you negotiate a salary offer?
Negotiating a salary offer involves preparation and finding our your market value. Use our salary calculator to find out how much you should be paid based on what someone in your area, with similar experience, earns. Use this personalized report to help negotiate a higher salary offer or find your dream career.
What are some factors that impact Early Childhood Educator salaries?
Several factors can impact your salary, including experience, company size, job market, location, industry, and more. Understanding how these factors affect your role can help you spot pay gaps and provide opportunities for a competitive salary.
About Our Data
This page is an excerpt of the much more complete compensation information available in ERI's Assessor Series.
ERI compiles the most robust and accurate salary, cost-of-living, and executive compensation survey database available. Data are analyzed using AI and traditional statistics, depending on which approach is best for a particular application. ERI collects salary survey data from five different sources, which you can learn about here.
Verified Sources
Data sourced from internal salary surveys, purchased surveys, public sources, HRIS data, and proprietary databases.
Real-Time Data
Our salary database is updated and verified approximately every six weeks.
Quality Assurance
Along with our data scientists, we have included AI in our rigorous process to analyze and provide the highest quality data.
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