Early Childhood Education Jobs in Louisiana

With a new state budget that includes additional funding for early childhood education, a federal grant expanding preschool programs throughout the state, and a coordinated network of early childhood education programs, Louisiana’s ECE system and the educators who make it work are poised for success.

In June 2019, Louisiana lawmakers gave the greenlight to a $30 billion state budget which includes both teacher pay raises and more funding for the state’s early childhood education system. This windfall for the education system builds on the state’s already-robust system that includes the Louisiana Early Childhood Care and Education Network, which unifies the state’s childhood education programs, and the $32 million preschool expansion grant, which is designed to expand preschool programs to early learners in high-need communities throughout the state.

These exciting steps toward a brighter future for Louisiana’s earliest learners also translate into exceptional professional opportunities for early childhood educators across all disciplines.

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Louisiana Salary Rankings

#27

in the US for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

#28

in the US for Special Education Teachers, Preschool

#38

in the US for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

#38

in the US for Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare

#41

in the US for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School

#50

in the US for Childcare Workers

Early Childhood Jobs in Louisiana

While state salary stats aren’t often kind to early childhood educators in the Deep South, particularly when compared to national averages, it’s all quite relative when considering that the cost of living tends to be much lower in this part of the country. Often times, the best way to make a fair assessment is to compare average salaries between states in the same region.

This holds true in Louisiana, where salaries for early childhood education professionals, shine bright when compared to neighboring states. For example, the average salary for preschool teachers in Louisiana is $32,290 – that’s well above the average for both Mississippi ($27,940) and Oklahoma ($29,310).

Occupation	Total Employed	Median Annual Salary	% of US Median
Childcare Workers	8,840	$19,820	81%
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	820	$50,540	87%
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	3,990	$50,300	80%
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	1,980	$32,290	94%
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	620	$50,690	102%
Special Education Teachers, Preschool	530	$49,480	80%
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare	280	$45,010	83%
= Salary below nat’l. avg. = Salary above nat’l. avg.

Child, family and school social workers earn a top spot among professionals working within the sphere of early childhood education in the Bayou State with salaries that exceed the national average. Kindergarten teachers, special ed teachers at the preschool and elementary school levels, and education administrators all make the grade with average salaries that land between $45000-$50,000.

Childcare Workers – There are 8,840 childcare workers employed in Louisiana, and these professionals earn an average of $19,820. Thanks to a projected increase of 7% in the number of jobs expected to open up through 2026, the future looks bright for a career in childcare. Jobs for Louisiana’s childcare workers are expected to increase by 2.6% through 2026.

Child, Family, and School Social Workers – Louisiana’s 620 child, family, and school social workers earn an average salary of $50,690 – that’s about $1,000 higher than the national average. Child, family, and school social worker jobs in Louisiana are expected to rise by 11.1% through 2026.

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education – There are 820 kindergarten teachers working in Louisiana. These education professionals earn an average salary of $50,540. Kindergarten teacher jobs in Louisiana are projected to increase by 7.3% through 2026.

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education – Louisiana is home to 1,980 preschool teachers – that’s more than double the number of kindergarten teachers. Jobs for preschool teachers pay an average salary of $32,290. The number of preschool teachers in Louisiana is expected to increase by 6.5% through 2026.

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City-Level Job Stats

There is little consistency when it comes to where the top earners in early childhood education are located in Louisiana. For example, preschool teachers in the Monroe area earn an average salary of $45,430, which is 11,000 more than their closest competitor, Shreveport-Bossier City, where they earn $34,520 on average.

But Shreveport-Bossier city takes the lead when it comes to kindergarten teacher average salaries, beating out the state’s other metro regions by nearly $6,000.

Preschool Teachers

New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner – 770 licensed teachers with an average salary of $31,050
Baton Rouge –average salary of $30,730
Shreveport-Bossier City – 230 licensed teachers with an average salary of $34,520
Lafayette – 280 licensed teachers with an average salary of $32,570
Monroe –50 licensed teachers with an average salary of $45,430

Kindergarten Teachers

New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner – 240 licensed teachers with an average salary of $52,020
Baton Rouge – 180 licensed teachers with an average salary of $51,370
Shreveport-Bossier City – 60 licensed teachers with an average salary of $56,220
Monroe – 100 licensed teachers with an average salary of $50,880

Special Education Teachers – Preschool

New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner – 100 licensed teachers with an average salary of $51,840

Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School

New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner – 1,050 licensed teachers with an average salary of $51,320
Baton Rouge – 670 licensed teachers with an average salary of $51,740
Shreveport-Bossier City – 470 licensed teachers with an average salary of $52,380
Lafayette – 330 licensed teachers with an average salary of $49,570
Houma-Thibodaux – 170 licensed teachers with an average salary of $50,700
Monroe – 170 licensed teachers with an average salary of $52,050

Education Administrators – Preschool and Childcare

New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner – 90 licensed teachers with an average salary of $56,440
Baton Rouge – 80 licensed teachers with an average salary of $34,610
Shreveport-Bossier City –average salary of $36,760

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