Early Childhood Education Jobs in Washington DC
Our nation’s capital is a leader in early childhood education, and it has no plans to slow down its initiatives and programs aimed at the state’s youngest learners anytime soon.
Building on the universal pre-k program that was enacted here in 2009, the Birth-to-Three For All D.C. Act (funded by an increase in the tobacco tax) is among a number of efforts designed to increase investments in health services for infants and toddlers and includes increasing subsidies for early childhood learning. One of the main goals of this legislation includes increasing the pay of workers in early childhood learning.
This type of focused legislation is not just financially beneficial for early childhood educators in Washington D.C., it’s also reassuring. In other words, early childhood educators in Washington D.C. can feel good knowing they are part of an early childhood learning system that hasn’t forgotten the importance of establishing and maintaining a high-quality early childhood workforce.
District Of Columbia Salary Rankings
in the US for Childcare Workers
in the US for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
in the US for Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare
in the US for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School
in the US for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Early Childhood Jobs in District Of Columbia
Work in early childhood education in Washington D.C. and you’ll likely enjoy one of the highest salaries in the nation. And while the high cost of living in our nation’s capital must be taken into consideration, average salaries for many of these professionals are still impressive, often exceeding the national average by more than $10,000.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Median Annual Salary | % of US Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 2,080 | $70,270 |  141% |
|
| Childcare Workers | 2,310 | $33,110 | 135% |
|
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,380 | $42,060 | 122% |
|
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | 630 | $78,830 | 125% |
|
| Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare | 1,400 | $67,700 | 125% |
|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 80 | $54,940 |  94% |
|
| = Salary below nat’l. avg. = Salary above nat’l. avg. |
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Salaries among those teaching the youngest learners in Washington D.C. far exceed the national average, with the exception of kindergarten teachers, whose average salary falls just short. Childcare workers and child, family, and school social workers here are ranked first in the nation, earning an average salary that comes in about $21,000 more than the national average.
Childcare Workers – There are 2,310 childcare workers in Washington D.C. These early childhood professionals earn an annual average salary of $33,110, or about $9,000 more than the national average. This ranks childcare workers in D.C. first in the nation for pay, followed by Massachusetts, at $30,090. Childcare worker jobs in Washington D.C. are expected to increase by 11.8% through 2026 – much higher than the national growth rate of 7% during this time.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers – The 2,080 child, family, and school social workers in Washington D.C. earn an annual average salary of $70,270 – that’s about $21,000 more than the national average. It’s no surprise that this salary ranks these D.C. professionals first in the nation for pay. Jobs among child, family, and school social workers in our nation’s capital are projected to rise by 13.6% through 2026.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education – The nation’s capital is home to just 80 kindergarten teachers. This select group of educators earn an annual average salary of $54,940. Though this comes in below the national average, it’s likely the result of having such a small sampling in this category. Employment among Washington D.C.’s kindergarten teachers is expected to increase by 14.3% through 2026 – more than double the national growth rate of 7% for this profession.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education – The 1,380 preschool teachers working in Washington D.C. get paid an annual average salary of $42,060, or about $8,000 more than the national average. This ranks Washington D.C.’s preschool teachers third in the nation, behind only New York and Connecticut. The number of preschool teacher jobs in Washington D.C. is expected to increase by 16.7% through 2026 – much higher than the national growth rate of 10% for this occupation.
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School – Special education teacher jobs in kindergarten and elementary school settings in our nation’s capital pay an annual average salary of $78,830, or about $15,000 more than the national average. It’s no surprise that D.C. special education teachers are ranked second in the nation for pay, behind only California. There are just 630 professionals working in this specialized role in Washington, D.C. Special education teacher jobs in kindergarten and elementary school settings in Washington D.C. are projected to rise by 16% through 2026 – double the national job growth projection of just 8% for these professionals.
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare – Employment among Washington D.C.’s education administrators in preschool and childcare settings is projected to rise by 16.1% through 2026 – that’s much higher than the national growth rate of 11% for preschool administrators during the same period.
City-Level Job Stats
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area boasts impressive salaries for early childhood education professionals, all of which far exceed the national average. And while jobs for kindergarten teachers in Washington D.C. pay an annual average salary that’s lower than the national average, those in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro region earn $69,980 on average– that’s $11,000 more than the national average.
Preschool Teachers
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 10,810 teachers earning an average salary of $40,490
Kindergarten Teachers
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,940 teachers earning an average salary of $69,980
Special Education Teachers – Preschool
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 270 teachers earning an average salary of $78,760
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 4,560 teachers earning an average salary of $73,620
Education Administrators – Preschool and Childcare
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,400 teachers earning an average salary of $67,700
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_dc.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.
