Early Childhood Education Jobs in Maine

With unanimous approval for additional funding coming down from the Maine Legislature Education Committee, expansion of the state’s pre-k programs is in the works. This is creating new opportunities for Maine’s earliest learners, and the dedicated early childhood educators who teach them.

By 2023-24, school districts across Maine will be required to expand their pre-k programs, bringing the state closer to its goal of providing pre-k to all students statewide.

An increase in the number of pre-k programs will increase the demand for early childhood educators in Maine, making this state a sure bet for exciting professional opportunities in the coming years.

Early Childhood Jobs in Maine

While Maine struggles to remain on par with the national average in some occupations that fall within the sphere of early childhood education, in certain roles professionals in this field are earning salaries that surpasses what their colleagues in neighboring states and around the nation are earning. But what remains a constant in this beautiful, New England state is that jobs in early childhood education are in demand here due to an ongoing statewide teacher shortage. That means that pursuing a career in early childhood education in Maine comes with exciting professional opportunities, as well as a competitive salary.

Occupation	Total Employed	Median Annual Salary	% of US Median
Childcare Workers	2,830	$25,010	102%
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	1,550	$52,130	105%
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	1,420	$51,980	82%
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	1,420	$35,560	103%
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	1,120	$52,710	90%
Special Education Teachers, Preschool	–	$36,070	59%
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare	240	$46,740	87%
= Salary below nat’l. avg.      = Salary above nat’l. avg.

Childcare workers, preschool teachers, as well as child and school social workers in Maine all have average salaries that exceed the national average.

Childcare Workers – There are 2,830 childcare workers employed in Maine. The average salary for these professionals is $25,010, which is slightly higher than the national average of $24,610.

Child, Family, and School Social Workers – There are 1,550 child, family, and school social workers employed in Maine. These professionals earn an average salary of $52,130 – that’s more than $2,000 above the national average.

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education – Maine’s 1,120 kindergarten teachers earn an average salary of $52,710. With a projected job increase of 7% through 2026, this profession remains strong.

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education – There are 1,420 preschool teachers employed in Maine, and their average salary of $35,560 puts them above the national average by about $1,000.

Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School – Maine’s 1,040 special education teachers in kindergarten and elementary school settings earn an average salary of $51,980.

Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare – The state’s 240 education administrators in preschool and childcare settings earn an average salary of $46,740. Demand for jobs in this field is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years, rising by 11% through 2026.

Special Education Teachers, Preschool – Special education teachers in preschool settings earn an average salary of $36,070 in Maine.

City-Level Job Stats

Certain ECE professionals in the Portland metro region are the top earners in the state, although the Lewiston-Auburn metro region comes out on top when it comes to the average salary for preschool teachers specifically.

Preschool Teachers

• Portland-South Portland – an average salary of $33,550
• Bangor – 170 licensed teachers with an average salary of $39,220
• Lewiston-Auburn – 60 licensed teachers with an average salary of $40,940
• Portsmouth, NH-ME – 390 licensed teachers with an average salary of $30,750

Kindergarten Teachers

• Portland-South Portland- 260 licensed teachers with an average salary of $58,880
• Bangor – 160 licensed teachers with an average salary of $50,270
• Lewiston-Auburn – 80 licensed teachers with an average salary of $47,710
• Portsmouth, NH-ME – 50 licensed teachers with an average salary of $59,520

Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School

• Portland-South Portland – 230 licensed teachers with an average salary of $57,480
• Bangor – 140 licensed teachers with an average salary of $49,770
• Lewiston-Auburn – 110 licensed teachers with an average salary of $51,000
• Portsmouth, NH-ME – 50 licensed teachers with an average salary of $56,500

Education Administrators – Preschool and Childcare

• Portland-South Portland- 110 licensed teachers with an average salary of $45,340
• Bangor –30 licensed teachers with an average salary of $46,640
• Portsmouth, NH-ME – 60 licensed teachers with an average salary of $57,230

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_me.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.