Early Childhood Education Jobs in Georgia

Early 2019 came with good news from Georgia’s legislature: approval for educator salary raises across the board – with some districts now offering as much as 9% more than the year before! That’s great news for everyone from preschool and kindergarten teachers to school administrators working with the state’s youngest learners.

Early Childhood Jobs in Georgia

Occupation	Total Employed	Median Annual Salary	% of US Median
Childcare Workers	14,790	$21,810	89%
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	14,430	$30,910	90%
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	5,180	$55,160	87%
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	8,660	$41,040	82%
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	4,720	$54,080	93%
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare	1,690	$47,280	88%
Special Education Teachers, Preschool	220	$52,360	85%
= Salary below nat’l. avg.      = Salary above nat’l. avg.

Childcare Workers – There are 14,790 childcare workers in Georgia. These educational professionals earn an average salary of $21,810, just $3,000 shy of the national average.

Child, Family, and School Social Workers – There are 8,660 child, family, and school social workers employed in Georgia earning an average annual salary of $41,040. Jobs in this profession are expected to increase by 16% through 2026.

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education – Georgia is home to 4,720 kindergarten teachers. These professionals earn an average salary of $54,080 here. The number of jobs in this field is expected to increase at an impressive 7% through 2026

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education – The state’s 14,430 preschool teachers earn an average salary of $30,910. The number of preschool teachers in the Peach State is more than triple that of kindergarten teachers here.

Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School – There are 5,180 special education teachers in kindergarten and elementary settings in Georgia, compared to just 220 special ed teachers at the preschool level. The average salary for these dedicated professionals is $55,160.

Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare – The average salary among the 1,690 education administrators in Georgia’s preschools is $47,280. The number of jobs for these professionals is expected to grow by 11% through 2026.

Special Education Teachers, Preschool – There are 220 special education teachers employed in preschool settings in Georgia. These professionals earn an average salary of $52,360. Jobs in special education are projected to increase by 8% through 2026, spelling ample opportunities for these professionals.

City-Level Job Stats

Salary disparities among early childhood educators in Georgia are nothing new. Taken as a statewide average, salaries for early childhood educators and related professions may come in below the overall national average, but in certain metro areas in the state salaries actually far exceed the national average.

For example, the average salary for Athens-Clarke County area preschool teachers is $42,430 – that’s $8,000 more than the national average. Similarly, the average salary for kindergarten teachers in the Augusta-Richmond County metropolitan region is $63,920 – or about $5,000 more than the national average.

Georgia is also home to metropolitan areas that rank among the top in the nation for their number of early childhood educators. For example, the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan area is ranked eighth in the nation for its employment level of special education teachers in kindergarten and elementary settings, preschool teachers, and education administrators in preschool and childcare settings.

Preschool Teachers

• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta – 9,770 licensed teachers with an average salary of $30,540
• Chattanooga, TN-GA – 340 licensed teachers with an average salary of $29,360
• Augusta-Richmond County -GA, SC – 500 licensed teachers with an average salary of $28,580
• Savannah – 480 licensed teachers with an average salary of $27,240
• Columbus – GA, AL – 450 licensed teachers with an average salary of $28,180
• Athens-Clarke County – 340 licensed teachers with an average salary of $42,430
• Macon – 270 licensed teachers with an average salary of $29,780
• Gainesville – 110 licensed teachers with an average salary of $34,540
• Albany – 160 licensed teachers with an average salary of $32,770
• Brunswick – 140 licensed teachers with an average salary of $33,630
• Valdosta – 250 licensed teachers with an average salary of $31,550
• Warner Robins – 480 licensed teachers with an average salary of $32,890
• Rome – average salary of $25,490
• Hinesville-Fort Stewart – average salary of $38,290

Kindergarten Teachers

• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta – 2,630 licensed teachers with an average salary of $54,230
• Chattanooga, TN-GA – 80 licensed teachers with an average salary of $48,000
• Augusta-Richmond County -GA, SC – 270 licensed teachers with an average salary of $63,920
• Savannah – 160 licensed teachers with an average salary of $51,380
• Athens-Clarke County – 100 licensed teachers with an average salary of $53,090
• Macon – 120 licensed teachers with an average salary of $48,880
• Gainesville – 90 licensed teachers with an average salary of $47,830
• Albany – 160 licensed teachers with an average salary of $50,400
• Valdosta – 70 licensed teachers with an average salary of $52,110

Special Education Teachers – Preschool

• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta – 100 licensed teachers with an average salary of $47,530

Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School

• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta – 3,220 licensed teachers with an average salary of $54,800
• Chattanooga, TN-GA – 280 licensed teachers with an average salary of $50,580
• Augusta-Richmond County -GA, SC – average salary of $66,870
• Savannah – 160 licensed teachers with an average salary of $42,930
• Athens-Clarke County – 90 licensed teachers with an average salary of $55,800
• Macon – average salary of $62,380
• Albany – 60 licensed teachers with an average salary of $53,460
• Valdosta – 40 licensed teachers with an average salary of $55,500

Education Administrators – Preschool and Childcare  

• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta – 1,150 licensed teachers with an average salary of $46,920
• Augusta-Richmond County -GA, SC – 80 licensed teachers with an average salary of $44,360
• Savannah – 60 licensed teachers with an average salary of $48,940
• Columbus – GA, AL – 50 licensed teachers with an average salary of $44,110
• Macon – 60 licensed teachers with an average salary of $42,650
• Warner Robins – 40 licensed teachers with an average salary of $42,450

 

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, [salary data accessed April 2019] https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ga.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.