Early Childhood Education Jobs in Delaware
Pursue a career in early childhood education in Delaware and you’ll be part of the state’s groundbreaking efforts aimed at transforming the early childhood education system to ensure the state’s youngest learners have access to the resources they need for learning success.
After the 2007 National Survey Of Children’s Health put the state in last place for its use of standardized developmental screenings, Delaware was on a mission to improve its early childhood outcomes.
This system transformation includes improved access to developmental screenings through insurance mandates that require insurance companies to cover these tests which rely on a convenient, online screening tool. This major change has since resulted in early diagnoses and improved care for Delaware’s youngest learners.
But that’s not all—Delaware is building on this success by providing ample resources for parents and early learners, including their Delaware 2-1-1 line, which offers free human service referrals, so that all students in the state are prepared for a bright future.
It’s an exciting time to pursue a career in early childhood education and be part of Delaware’s outstanding strides aimed at improving early childhood outcomes.
Delaware Salary Rankings
in the US for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School
in the US for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
in the US for Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare
in the US for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Early Childhood Jobs in Delaware
Don’t let Delaware’s diminutive size fool you – many of this state’s early childhood education salaries are competitive when compared to the national average. And while salaries for certain professionals, including child, family, and school social workers and preschool teachers are lower here, kindergarten teachers and preschool administrators enjoy salaries that come in well above the national average.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Median Annual Salary | % of US Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 2,150 | $28,910 |  84% |
|
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | 1,090 | $61,010 | 97% |
|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 1,190 | $40,380 | 81% |
|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 390 | $60,140 |  103% |
|
| Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare | 230 | $59,480 | 111% |
|
| = Salary below nat’l. avg. = Salary above nat’l. avg. |
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Plus, the number of early childhood education jobs in Delaware, while obviously small when compared to other states in the country, surprisingly, represents a significant portion of the total workforce.
Childcare Workers – There are 1,070 childcare workers jobs in Delaware, and the average, annual pay for this occupation is $22,300 – about $2,000 less than the national average. Employment among Delaware’s childcare workers is expected to increase by 8.3% through 2026.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers – Delaware is home to 1,190 child, family, and school social worker jobs, and the annual, average salary for this occupation is $40,380 – that’s about $9,000 less than the national average. Child, family, and school social worker jobs in Delaware are expected to rise 13.3% through 2026.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education – Delaware’s kindergarten teachers earn an annual, average salary of $60,140 – that’s about $2,000 more than the national average. The number of jobs in this profession total 390 here. Jobs among Delaware’s kindergarten teachers are expected to rise by 6.4% through 2026.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education – Delaware is home to 2,150 preschool teacher jobs. This profession’s annual, average salary in Delaware is $28,910. The number of jobs for preschool teachers in Delaware is expected to rise by 5.9% through 2026.
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School – There are 1,090 special education teacher jobs in kindergarten and elementary school settings in Delaware. The annual, average salary for these Delaware professionals is $61,010, or about $2,000 less than the national average. Jobs for special ed teachers in Delaware’s kindergarten and elementary schools should rise by 5.8% through 2026.
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare – Education administrator jobs in preschool and childcare settings total 230 in Delaware. These educational professionals earn an annual, average salary of $59,480, which ranks them fifth in the nation for pay, behind only those in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, Massachusetts. Jobs for Delaware’s preschool and childcare education administrators should see a 4.3% rise through 2026.
City-Level Job Stats
Salaries for early childhood educators in the greater Wilmington metropolitan area are competitive with the national average and, in many cases, exceed it. For example, special education teachers in kindergarten and elementary school settings here earn an annual, average salary of $68,220 – that’s about $5,000 more than the national average. And while preschool teachers in the Dover area earn less than the national average, their annual, average salary is about $1,000 more than the state average.
Preschool Teachers
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD 9,400 $31,720
- Dover, DE 320 $29,900
Kindergarten Teachers
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,810 $59,670
Special Education Teachers – Preschool
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD 130 $53,230
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD 4,980 $68,220
Education Administrators – Preschool and Childcare
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,580 $56,920
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_de.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.
