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What Can You Do With an Early Childhood Education Degree?

Working with kids has an obvious appeal. Those silly, inspiring and exciting little learners are certainly a handful, but their infectious enthusiasm is also as good of a reason as any to come into work every day with a smile. Those kiddos can keep you young at heart and the everyday fun surprises that accompany working with them are a delightful change of pace. If you relate to this sentiment, it’s no wonder you’re interested in a career in early childhood education. As you’re researching the path to pursuing a job in this field, you’re likely asking yourself, “What can I do with an Early Childhood Education degree?”

An early childhood education degree, also known as an ECE degree, gives prospective educators many different opportunities to teach and cultivate important lessons catered toward the development of young children. These varying opportunities come in the form of different educational occupations, all meant for specialization in early childhood education. Individuals in these roles will be able to make a real difference in the foundational knowledge of countless children. 

What is Early Childhood Education?

The technical definition of early childhood education is the period of learning that takes place from birth to the age of eight. From the preschool level up to the end of early childhood, there are many different programs and approaches to curricula available. They can be federally funded, state-funded, or privately funded. All are set to help students reach certain cognitive standards and benchmarks that are helpful to children as their education continues.

Lessons learned during early childhood develop the fundamentals of learning and participating in a learning environment. Visit our own article that focuses on the question, “What is Early Childhood Education?”

Top Early Childhood Education Degree Jobs

Now that you know what an ECE degree entails, you might be wondering, “What can I do with an early childhood education degree?” Outlined below are some of the top early childhood education jobs. Take a look at the educational requirements, a summary of responsibilities, and the average salary for each occupation to see which is right for you.

Preschool Teacher

Average Salary: $29,780 per year
Educational Requirements: Associate’s degree in early childhood education or related field
Where you work: Daycare services, state, local, or private schools, private homes, religious institutions, grantmaking organizations, civic centers

What Does a Preschool Teacher Do?

Preschool teachers are tasked with administering the fundamental lessons associated with early childhood education that help bring their students up to developmental standards. Day-to-day activities in this position include working with young children both individually and in a group setting, tracking the progress of each student, organizing entertaining educational activities, and creating daily schedules. Early educators can use a child’s desire to play and be active as an advantage in the learning process 

Traditional academic education is not all a preschool teacher must focus on. Some emotional and social education takes place in a preschool setting, as well. At this early stage, educators use team exercises to improve social skills, but also to teach lessons on inclusion and respect. 

Kindergarten and Elementary School Teacher

Average Salary: $57,980 per year
Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education
Where you work: Public and Private Elementary schools, Child Day Care Services, charter schools, religious-based schools

What Does a Kindergarten Teacher Do?

Many daily responsibilities of kindergarten and elementary school teachers mirror those of a preschool teacher. They put together lesson plans, daily schedules for class, and track the progress of their students. The emotional and social lessons continue to play a large role in this position. By this stage of education, some of these responsibilities become more complex as the students build upon the foundational knowledge they learned in preschool.

There are a few major differences between the two occupations. Preschool tends to take place in one classroom where the students learn, play, rest, and eat. They may move to a lunchroom or an outdoor play area, but kindergarten and elementary school students move around much more in during the day. These students frequently move to different classes for different lessons, head to the lunchroom to eat, go outside for recess, and participate in field trips. A high level of supervision is required of teachers at this stage of schooling. Also, teachers entering this occupation can expect to work at a private or public school. A very small percentage are employed by daycare services.

Nanny

Average Salary: Minimum wage – $18 per hour
Educational Requirements: Vary based on state, employer, and workplace 
Where you work: Private homes

What Does a Nanny Do?

Nannying is an occupation that varies greatly based on the employer. Every child and every family have different needs when it comes to childcare. In the simplest description, nannies must provide attentive, warm care to the children they are tasked with looking after. That may entail simple supervision and care in an employer’s private home, but nannies are often given additional responsibilities. For example, nannies may also be expected to bring children to and from events, do some food shopping for them, and even make sure the house remains clean and organized while the employers are indisposed. 

One thing that sets this job apart from others on the list is that nannying can be a live-in position. Some employers need someone to live in their private home or on the property that can be available to take care of their children at any time. Live-in nannies may look after children from the moment they wake up to when they’re tucked in at night. Be sure to take into account the variance in responsibilities, salary, and educational requirements associated with nannying. 

What’s the Difference Between a Babysitter and a Nanny?

The difference between a babysitter and a nanny is not always clear. Each position features similar daily duties and childcare expectation. The easiest way to differentiate the two is that nannying is more likely to be a regular, full-time position. Often, babysitters are informally used as needed for an agreed-upon hourly or flat rate. On the other hand, nannies are almost always regularly employed, full-time or part-time. They are formally paid at an agreed-upon hourly rate, and all necessary employment and tax paperwork must be taken care of. The more formal nature of nannying usually goes hand-in-hand with additional duties like cooking, shopping, or cleaning for employers.    

Childcare Center Director

Average Salary: $47,940 per year
Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education
Where you work: Child daycare services, grantmaking organizations, civic centers, religious institutions, and state, local, or private schools

What Does a Childcare Center Director Do?

Preschool and Childcare center directors work a step back from the classroom, and they focus on the bigger picture of managing an early childhood education center. Directors supervise teachers and other employees of the center. They hire new educators, influence daily curricula and academic standards for students, allocate funds, communicate with parents, and ensure that their institution is up to health and safety standards. 

Some directors own the center that they direct while others are employed by the owner, or by the executive directors of an educational chain or franchise. If a director is employed by an outside entity, they must effectively communicate with that entity and run the center according to their policies and goals. If the owner is also the director, the center can be managed in whatever way they see fit. The position is much less hands-on with students and much more administrative. 

Childcare Worker

Average Salary: $23,240 per year
Educational Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
Where you work: Childcare centers, their own home, private homes

What Does a Childcare Worker Do?

Interestingly, childcare workers share many responsibilities with preschool teachers, but they exist outside of the traditional classroom. Childcare workers look after children, create schedules around education, play, and nourishment, introduce children to basic concepts, and help prepare them for the next level of education, usually kindergarten. They help children build social relationships with others, and they teach activities art or dance that may grab the interest of the children in their care. Sometimes childcare workers communicate with the teachers of children they work with to focus on specific lessons or skills that need improvement. 

Childcare workers do not only work with children in preschool. Individuals in this occupation may also work with older children before and/or after school. In this situation, childcare workers would be helping with homework or other facets of the curriculum being taught during the school day. Some childcare workers are even employed over the summer to continue the education of participating children. 

Special Education Teacher

Average Salary: $59,780 per year
Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in special education or related field
Where you work: Public, private, charter, or religious-based schools

What Does a Special Education Teacher Do?

Special education teachers work with students who have mental, emotional, physical, or learning disabilities. This profession is not relegated to early childhood education. Individuals with sufficient degrees and certifications in special education can work with students from preschool all the way through high school. These educators have quite an array of daily responsibilities and they can change based on the capabilities of the student they are assisting. Generally, special education teachers must assess and reassess their students’ skills, determine their educational needs, discuss students’ educational progress with parents and other school staff, and plan activities catered toward their students’ specific abilities. Special education teachers are pivotal in progressing their students’ education and guiding their transition from grade to grade. 

The Individualized Educational Program (IEP) is the cornerstone of a special education teacher’s responsibilities. It’s the formalized plan discussed with parents, fellow teachers, and administrators that is updated and designed to effectively educate every individual special education student. Special education teachers must be able to create efficient and practical IEPs to be successful, no matter the age of their students.

School Counselor or Psychologist 

Average Salary: $56,310 per year
Educational Requirements: Master’s degree in school counseling or related field
Where you work: Private, public, charter, and religious-based schools, healthcare and social assistance organizations, other educational services

What does a School Counselor Do?

If you’re wondering, “what can you do with an early childhood education degree besides teach?,” don’t worry, there are many job opportunities for you to work with children outside of the classroom. For example, school counselors help students with academic and social skills needed to succeed academically. These are skills not normally taught in a classroom environment, like how to study or manage time effectively. School counselors will meet with students individually or in small groups and identify where they could use some help. They try to identify issues that impede on the academic success of individual students and help remedy those issues. Usually, counselors will collaborate with students, teachers, and parents to solve these problems. Counselors are also tasked with teaching students and staff about sensitive issues like drug abuse and bullying.

This is another occupation that is not relegated to early childhood, and the responsibilities differ based on the age group being counseled. A school counselor hired by an elementary school would be working with younger children, and their needs are much different from those of their high school counterparts. This early age group would most likely learn about decision making, time management, and appropriate social behavior from their counselors. 

How to Become an Early Childhood Educator

The first step to becoming an early childhood educator is to narrow down the occupations that interest you in the field. This decision will help set your academic goals since many of these jobs have different educational requirements. Previous experience, personal interest, desired workplace environment, and financial goals are all important to making decisions about the occupation you’d like to earn. 
 
Based on the occupations above, it seems as though the most versatile degree is a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. It’s a requirement in several positions, and it will be beneficial to you when applying to any position that involves working with children. It may not be a requirement to be a preschool teacher, but it will set you apart from other applicants. That degree would have the same effect when competing for work as a nanny or as a childcare worker. If you’d like to have a more managerial role, like Day Care Center Director, or a more specialized role, such as a school counselor, a higher degree will be helpful. It may even be required. After you decide on the degree you’d like to pursue, the next step would be to look for higher education institutions that offer that degree program. 

Become an Early Childhood Education Specialist with GMercyU

Gwynedd Mercy University has an exceptional degree program for students who would like to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Early Education. Our unique Early Childhood Education program gives students hands-on classroom experience in their very first semester with our Teacher Apprenticeship Program (TAP). GMercyU’s program also provides significant assistance when prospective early childhood educators begin looking for student teaching opportunities, and affiliated professors and administrators will help students earn their teaching certifications, as well. Take a look at our website for more information on our Early Education Program.

What Can I Do with an Early Childhood Education Degree?

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Working with kids has an obvious appeal. Those silly, inspiring and exciting little learners are certainly a handful, but their infectious enthusiasm is also as good of a reason as any to come into work every day with a smile. Those kiddos can keep you young at heart and the everyday fun surprises that accompany working with them are a delightful change of pace.

If you relate to this sentiment, it’s no wonder you’re interested in a career in early childhood education. As you’re researching the path to pursuing a job in this field, you’re likely asking yourself, “What can I do with an Early Childhood Education degree?”

It turns out there are multiple answers to that question, and multiple educational options to consider. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect in an Early Childhood Education (ECE) program and a breakdown of the potential roles these programs can prepare you for.

What to expect from an Early Childhood Education degree or credential program

Before enrolling in any program, you want to know what you’re going to get out of it. A formal education in this field will provide you with the building blocks for ECE principles, while furthering your leadership and administrative skills.

At the bachelor’s degree level you will not only be prepared to help develop young children physically and emotionally, but you’ll also gain business know-how and advocacy fundamentals as well. Curious about what types of courses you might encounter? Here’s a glimpse into the Rasmussen College curriculum.

Early childhood education courses

Here is a sampling of courses offered in the Rasmussen College School of Education programs:

• Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Instruction: This foundational course sets the stage for promoting the healthy development of young children academically, socially and emotionally. Students will examine developmentally appropriate methods for writing and assessing behavioral objectives, lesson plans and activity goals.
• Foundations of Child Development: This course requires students to explore developmental domains, theories and characteristics of children from birth to age eight. Students will learn the key considerations of developmentally appropriate practice and review learning theories used to support children as they grow.
• Dynamics of the Family: This course helps students understand how families influence the growth of children. Students will learn about different types of family systems and parenting styles and how educators can support their success.
• Language and Literacy Acquisition: Students will examine how infant, toddler, preschool and school-aged English language learners acquire language and literacy. Students will be exposed to examples of early childhood programs that support children’s home languages, and explore how to create an environment that sustains English language learners.
• Planning with a Purpose: This teaches students how to effectively plan children’s activities to aide in their holistic growth. Topics covered include how to write learning objectives, reviewing different curricula and methods of implementing curriculum, how technology can be integrated into activity planning, and how to assess the quality of an activity.
• Organizational Management in Early Childhood Education: This course trains students on practical guidance on policies, procedures, roles and responsibilities viewed through the lens of adhering to best practices for children and families. Students will also examine some of the external factors that influence the operation of early childhood programs, including political and societal trends.
• Early Childhood Education Advocacy, Research and Policy: In this course, students will explore trends in the ECE field. They will examine current research and national, local and legislative policies. Students will also develop the skills needed for critiquing and analyzing research findings and their effects on early childhood education.

Common early childhood education job titles

One way to get a better idea of what you can do with an early childhood education degree is to examine job postings from ECE employers themselves. We used real-time job market software to analyze over 51,000 job postings seeking candidates who’ve studied early childhood education.

Here’s a sampling of the ECE job titles we found^*:

• Preschool teacher
• Infant teacher
• Childcare teacher
• Toddler teacher
• Teacher’s assistant or aide
• Child care center director
• Nanny

As you can see, many of the positions seeking trained ECE professionals focus on direct education roles with job titles that may sound pretty similar—who knew there was such a variety of “teacher” titles?

But that’s only telling part of the story. While the big picture duties of teacher positions in early childhood education tend to be similar in that they aid in the development of children, there are some key differences in the details.

Teacher’s assistant or teacher’s aide positions tend to be a common entry point into the ECE field. These education professionals play a key role in keeping any center or classroom running smoothly. They assist teachers and directors with preparing for daily activities, maintain classroom spaces and serve as a much needed extra set of eyes, ears and hands throughout the day. This role typically does not require an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree, but non-degree credentials like an Early Childhood Education Certificate or Diploma can be an excellent way to highlight your dedication to the field.

The roles at the teacher-level also tend to have some variety in titles and duties. Teachers have more control over how their classrooms will operate for the day. These teachers help create lesson and activity plans for classrooms that are tailored to the age group they’re working with—many centers split their learners by age, with infants (0-12 months), toddlers (1-3 years old) and preschoolers (3-5 years old). These educators will assess and document child development progress, inform parents of milestones and set the overall plans for the day. The typical education required for these roles can vary quite a bit depending on employer, but many prefer candidates with an Associate’s degree or higher.

Director-level ECE roles typically require professionals who can take on the direct education of young children while also managing the important administrative duties that come with running a preschool or child care center. Their work often includes setting staff schedules, maintaining supply inventory, meeting with families of potential students, evaluating employee performance and the overall management of a child care facility. These advanced positions require a strong mix of skills to navigate, many of which can be honed in a Bachelor’s degree program.

An Early Childhood Education credential or degree can also be an appealing option for nannies or other home-based childcare providers. While these roles aren’t as well-documented by our analysis of job postings, they are an important part of the ECE landscape. Formal ECE-focused education not only provides a foundation of child development knowledge, but also a nice way for potential clients to validate a provider’s understanding and dedication to quality early education.

Keep in mind that employers aren’t always consistent with job title naming conventions and the education required to fulfil these roles can also be influenced by state and local regulations that may not always be uniform. Before picking an education path be sure to research what employers in your specific area are seeking.

What will you do with your Early Childhood Education degree?

Now you have a better understanding of what to expect from an Early Childhood Education program and the array of potential careers. Your next step is to determine which level of education can help you land your desired ECE career.

Associate’s Degree in Education

About the Associate’s in Education

Degree Type:

Associate of Arts, Associate of Science

Location:

Online, Classroom, Hybrid

Duration:

1-3 Years

Total Credits:

Minimum of 60

Aid Eligible:

Yes, for accredited programs

Earning an associate’s degree in education is an option for anyone considering a career in the classroom. There are distinct advantages to starting with an associate’s degree, and for many students, it’s an accessible entry point into the education field. Use this in-depth overview to decide if an associate’s degree in education is ideal for you.

What Types of Degrees are Available?

You may have also heard of an associate’s degree in teaching, however, the curriculum is essentially the same. But no matter your passion, students have the option to pursue specialized education degrees tailored to their interests and career priorities:

• Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education: This path focuses on the skills and strengths that teachers need to work with infants, toddlers and kindergarten-age students.
• Associate’s Degree in Paraprofessional Education: This path focuses on the training that teacher’s assistants need to support students and teachers alike.
• Associate’s Degree in Elementary Education: This path provides a broad introduction to elementary education that is suitable for instructors at all grade levels.
• Associate’s Degree in Secondary Education: Some colleges offer a 2+2 program where students complete a two-year associate’s degree and then complete two more years of bachelor-level coursework to earn a four-year degree. The degree could be in any of the disciplines listed above, or a number of specialized disciplines only available at the bachelor’s level.

What is the Curriculum?

The specific coursework is different in every associate’s in education program, and students have some flexibility over the exact classes they take. Most programs, however, will include these subjects in the curriculum:

• Educational Trends: Students learn about the issues, ideas, obstacles, and opportunities having the biggest impact on education right now.
• Theories of Childhood Development: Coursework focuses on how children develop and how to best support and guide that development.
• Education Fundamentals: The basic principles of education are covered including lesson planning, classroom management and student engagement.
• Introduction to Elementary Education: Instruction is focused on the unique features of elementary education, early childhood education, paraprofessional education, etc.
• Math Education Fundamentals: Since elementary instructors are responsible for teaching every subject, they receive specific training in math education.
• Education Technology: The technologies that are used in today’s and tomorrow’s classroom are discussed and demonstrated.
• Liberal Arts Coursework: In addition to educational coursework, students take liberal arts classes focused on history, art, math, science, psychology, and many other subjects. Specific classes may be required, but students can typically choose some or all of the elective classes they take.

What is Required to Enter a Program?

It’s important to check with the schools you are interested in because every institution sets its own requirements for entry. Most commonly, students are asked to complete an application and submit either an official high school transcript or GED certificate. Students who have completed some post-secondary education must submit transcripts for that coursework as well. As part of the admission process, students may also have to pay a small fee, complete additional paperwork, and arrange scholarship and financial aid options.

What is Required to Complete an Associate’s in Education Program?

Again, the exact requirements vary depending on the degree program, but almost all associate’s degree students must earn at least 60 credit hours. The average student takes two years to earn those hours, but it may be possible to abridge or extend the timeline depending on the student’s priorities.

Some programs also include a practicum, which is an opportunity to work hands-on in a real classroom. Students are required to spend a certain number of hours working under the supervision of an actual teacher and handling the same responsibilities. This experience is invaluable because it brings the lessons of the classroom to life and gives aspiring teachers in-depth classroom experience.

Is an Associate’s Degree Enough to Teach?

It is essential to understand at the outset that an associate’s degree in education is not enough to become a licensed teacher. Every state has minimum requirements for licensure, and in every state, a bachelor’s degree is mandatory. For many students, however, an associate’s degree is a starting point rather than a finishing point. It may not provide a direct springboard into the classroom, but it does help to kick-start a career in education.

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What Can You Do with an Associate’s Degree in Education?

There are a number of exciting and in-demand jobs that students can begin working as soon as they complete a degree program, or even start while they are still in school.

• Teacher Assistant: These professionals work in classrooms with licensed teachers helping to supervise students, provide one-on-one instruction, prepare learning materials, and complete other assigned duties.
• Preschool Teacher: Depending on the state and the responsibilities of the teacher, it may be possible to work with very young students after earning an associate’s degree in education. Often, these teachers work in child care centers rather than traditional schools.
• Child Care Worker: These workers range from daycare providers to babysitters to live-in nannies. There may be no or only minimal education requirements to work in one of these positions, but having any degree in education gives candidates an advantage over other applicants.
• Tutor: People often become tutors because they have expertise in a subject rather than experience with teaching. Tutors who have both or have a demonstrated ability to impart information are the most in demand.

What is the Job Outlook?

That depends on what career path you choose to pursue:

• Teacher Assistant: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects demand to grow eight percent by 2026 and add 109,500 new teacher assistants to the 2016 total of 1,308,100. The median pay in 2016 was estimated to be $25,410 per year.
• Preschool Teacher: By 2026, there will be 10 percent more preschool teachers than the 2016 total of 478,500. The projects 50,100 new teachers to enter the field. The median pay for preschool teachers was $29,970 per year in 2016.
• Childcare Worker: This is a huge field according to the BLS, with 1,216,600 workers in 2016. By 2026, that figure will grow by eight percent and add 84,300 new workers. The median pay in 2016 was $21,170 per year for part-time childcare workers.

Why Earn an Associate’s Degree in Education?

No matter what your long-term career goals are, there are good reasons to consider earning one of these degrees at the outset:

• Lower Tuition Costs: It’s typically cheaper to complete basic coursework at the associate’s level and then transfer into a bachelor’s program with core requirements already completed. There are some programs that are specifically designed to make the jump up as seamless as possible.
• Less Up-Front Investment: If you are on the fence about spending your career as a teacher, it makes more sense to complete an associate’s degree first. That way, you are introduced to the concepts, coursework and classroom setting without having to commit to an expensive and time-consuming bachelor’s degree. If you choose to continue, that is great, and if you do not, then your up-front investment is minimal.
• More Time to Explore: Similar to the previous point, if you are unsure about what type of education field you want to specialize in, an associate’s degree gives you an introduction to one subject but also the freedom to redirect your focus at the bachelor’s level. Going straight into a bachelor’s program may offer less flexibility.
• Right for Some Students: If your ultimate goal is to become a preschool teacher, nanny, tutor, or childcare worker, it’s not necessary to invest extra in your education. Additional degrees may be an asset over the long-term, but they are not a requirement to start working and start earning.
• Extra Options Available: Lots of different schools offer an associate’s degree in education, both in person and online. This option gives students a larger number of schools to choose from and more selectivity when it comes to tuition, financial aid options, curriculum, location and other considerations.