Preschool teacher is one of the 10 most feared jobs in America.

Preschool teachers in Washington (USA) are the highest paid, with $46,108/year. However, this figure is still lower than the average income of Americans about $13,000/year.

Preschool education is the first step in preparing children for formal education. Preschool teachers are responsible for helping children develop their thinking, explore life, and encourage their future learning.

In the US, most preschool teachers are women. Their work is very hard. Sometimes, they have to take their work home to do. That is, toys for children. According to experts in the education industry, to keep their jobs, they have to try to attract children because there are students, there are teachers.

In 2014, CareerBuilder listed preschool teacher as one of the 10 scariest jobs in America, alongside criminal investigator and funeral home worker.

Preschool teacher was voted one of the 10 scariest jobs in America.

Highest preschool teacher salary still lower than average income

Despite their important responsibilities, their salaries are low. Salaries for teachers vary depending on the area, nature and policies of the school.

On average, the salary of preschool teachers in the US ranges from 11-12 USD/hour (about 250,000 VND to 273,000 VND/hour) or 33,869 USD/year (equivalent to 770 million VND/year).

Some states pay even lower than this level, such as South Carolina ($9.05/hour, 22% lower), Mississippi ($9.05/hour), Arkansas ($9.53/hour, 18% lower), and Alabama ($9.50/hour).

In contrast, preschool teacher salaries are better in some states such as Vermont ($14.76/hour), California ($14.05/hour), Massachusetts ($14.15/hour), Maryland ($14.02/hour).

Notably, Washington is where they are paid the highest at $46,108/year, 42% higher than the national average.

However, these figures still fall short of the average per capita income in the US ($59,407, 2017). In addition, the above states are also areas with a higher standard of living than the country as a whole.

Hard work, low salary, low benefits

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, when looking at the salaries of preschool teachers in public schools and private or religious schools, the difference is even more evident.

The organization said that in May 2010, the annual salary for a kindergarten teacher in a public school in the country could be as high as $39,470. However, a similar position in a private or religious school during the same period only received a salary of about $25,200. For facilities that only operate during the day, their salaries are even lower, $23,520/year.

Not only do public preschool teachers receive higher salaries, they also have better earning opportunities. A public school year typically lasts 10 months. However, teachers can work part-time in some primary schools, which offer after-school or weekend classes.

In addition, they also enjoy a salary increase policy based on the number of years of service. The increase fluctuates quite a lot, from less than 100 USD/year to more than 1,000 USD/year. The increase depends on the area they work in as well as the school's policy. This benefit also appears in some private or religious kindergartens, but not many.

For most private preschools, a teacher's years of experience are only useful in making them a desirable candidate in the eyes of employers.

Qualifications are also one of the factors that help preschool teachers increase their income opportunities. In addition to teaching certificates, preschool teachers who participate in skills training courses will receive a salary increase after completing the course.

In public schools, the pay increases will start at the beginning of the school year, while for preschool teachers working under a teachers union teaching contract, that will start next year. Additionally, the certifications mean they can apply for jobs in public schools.

Teachers who fail the course can only increase their salary based on years of service.

In addition, a significant number of preschool teachers in the US do not enjoy full benefits. In fact, more than half of them do not have insurance. Only about 2/5 have health insurance.

According to zing