Early Childhood Education Jobs in Alabama
Alabama has no plans to remain near the bottom of the nation for its educational system, and its First Class Pre-K program is proof positive that true, long-term student success can only be achieved when we begin with our earliest learners.
The First Class Pre-K program is a standout star in early education in the nation. In fact, Alabama enjoys one of the highest-ranked preschool programs in the country, with their First Class Pre-K program leading the U.S. for more than a decade. Even more impressive is that Alabama is one of just two states to meet the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) quality standards for its preschool program.
The state budget for the First Class Pre-K program continues to increase, resulting in a significant increase in the number of classrooms since its inauguration in 2005. The number of classrooms have risen from just 57 in 2005-2006 to 811 in 2016-2017.
It’s an exciting time to pursue a career in early childhood education and be part of Alabama’s groundbreaking education efforts aimed at the state’s earliest learners!
Alabama Salary Rankings
in the US for Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare
in the US for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
in the US for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School
in the US for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
in the US for Special Education Teachers, Preschool
in the US for Childcare Workers
Early Childhood Jobs in Alabama
Alabama’s educational struggles aren’t anything new, but preschool teachers and others in the early childhood education sphere are making a difference and being compensated accordingly for their hard work and effort. The results of all this hard work is being seen in recent educational improvements, including an upward trajectory of student grades throughout the state. That’s the kind of news everybody can feel good about.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Median Annual Salary | % of US Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Childcare Workers | 7,490 | $19,920 |  81% |
|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 3,460 | $40,710 | 82% |
|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | Not reported | $44,790 | 77% |
|
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 2,500 | $24,800 | 72% |
|
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | 820 | $49,320 | 78% |
|
| Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare | 330 | $39,100 | 73% |
|
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 140 | $46,580 | 76% |
|
= Salary below nat’l. avg.  = Salary above nat’l. avg. |
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Childcare Workers – The 7,490 childcare workers in Alabama earn an average, annual salary of $19,920. Jobs among Alabama’s childcare workers are expected to increase by 5.3% through 2026.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers – Child, family, and social workers in Alabama earn an annual average salary of $40,710. There are 3,460 child, family, and school social workers in Alabama and the employment level among these professionals is projected to increase by 10.2% through 2026.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education – Alabama’s kindergarten teachers earn an annual average salary of $44,790. Kindergarten teacher jobs in Alabama are expected to rise by 3.3% through 2026.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education – The average salary among the 2,500 preschool teachers employed in Alabama is $24,800. The number of jobs for Alabama’s preschool teachers is projected to rise by 7.5% through 2026.
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School –Special education teachers in Alabama’s kindergarten and elementary schools earn an annual average salary of $49,320. There are 820 special education teachers working in kindergarten and elementary schools throughout the state. The number of jobs for these specialists is projected to increase by 4.7% through 2026.
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare – Education administrators in preschool and childcare settings in Alabama earn $39,100 annually. With only about 330 education administrators in preschool and childcare settings in the state, this is a very select group of dedicated education professionals. However, the number of jobs in Alabama’s preschool and childcare settings is expected to increase by 5.6% through 2026.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool – Similarly, there are only 140 special education teachers in preschools in Alabama, and this small class of professionals is compensated well for their specialized expertise, earning an annual average salary of $46,580. The number of jobs for preschool special education teachers in Alabama is expected to increase by 20% through 2026 – more than two times the national job growth rate of 8% for this profession.
City-Level Job Stats
Salaries for preschool teachers and others within the early childhood education sphere were shown to vary considerably from city to city in Alabama. For example, in Dothan, preschool teachers earned just $24,480 on average, while in Tuscaloosa, preschool teachers earned $34,760 – about $10,000 more annually.
Preschool Teachers
- Birmingham-Hoover, AL – average salary of $25,510
- Huntsville, AL – 380 teachers earning an average of $19,850
- Montgomery, AL – average salary of $25,710
- Tuscaloosa, AL -100 teachers earning an average of $34,760
- Dothan, AL – 120 teachers earning an average of $24,460
- Auburn-Opelika, AL – 80 teachers earning an average of $24,480
- Columbus, GA-AL – 450 teachers earning an average of $28,180
Kindergarten Teachers
- Birmingham-Hoover, AL – average salary of $40,480
- Montgomery, AL -1,420 teachers earning an average of $48,180
- Tuscaloosa, AL – 1,360 teachers earning an average of $48,340
- Auburn-Opelika, AL – 800 teachers earning an average of $49,220
- Dothan, AL – 620 teachers earning an average of $47,080
- Anniston-Oxford, AL – 570 teachers earning an average of $50,010
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School
- Birmingham-Hoover, AL – 80 teachers earning an average of $58,550
- Huntsville, AL – average salary of $54,200
- Decatur, AL – average salary of $48,970
- Tuscaloosa, AL – 70 teachers earning an average of $52,170
- Anniston-Oxford, AL – 40 teachers earning an average of $52,150
- Montgomery, AL – average salary of $28,670
Education Administrators – Preschool and Childcare
- Columbus, GA-AL 50 administrators earning an average of $44,110
- Montgomery, AL – average salary of $44,730
2018 Occupational Employment Statistics sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [salary data accessed April 2019] https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_al.htm#25-0000
BLS salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
