Early Childhood Education Jobs in Arkansas
Arkansas’ commitment to the state’s earliest learners is paying off, and its efforts haven’t gone unnoticed on a national scale.
The National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University’s State of Preschool 2018 revealed the good news that preschool enrollment has steadily increased in the state, particularly among three-year-olds. In fact, Arkansas ranked fifth in the nation for its access to state-funded preschool for three-year-olds.
These sorts of improvements are just what the state’s educational system needs to begin making serious gains in student achievement. Pursue a career in early childhood education in Arkansas and you, too, can become part of the state’s impressive strides toward academic success at every level.
Arkansas Salary Rankings
in the US for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
in the US for Special Education Teachers, Preschool
in the US for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
in the US for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School
in the US for Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare
in the US for Childcare Workers
Early Childhood Jobs in Arkansas
You’ll find an abundance of jobs in early childhood education in Arkansas. The Natural State ranks third in the nation for the highest concentration of jobs in preschool special education. East Arkansas ranks among the top nonmetropolitan states in the country for its concentration of childcare workers, and West Arkansas ranks among the top nonmetropolitan areas for its concentration of preschool teachers.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Median Annual Salary | % of US Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Childcare Workers | 5,870 | $20,900 |  85% |
|
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 3,250 | $33,150 | 96% |
|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,410 | $46,180 | 79% |
|
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | 1,290 | $49,740 | 79% |
|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 1,500 | $38,270 | 76% |
|
| Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare | 580 | $45,310 | 84% |
|
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 450 | $46,870 | 76% |
|
= Salary below nat’l. avg.  = Salary above nat’l. avg. |
||||
Some jobs in the early childhood education sphere in Arkansas offer salaries that are quite competitive with the national average, including preschool teachers.
Childcare Workers –There are 5,870 childcare worker jobs in Arkansas, and the annual, average salary for this occupation is $20,900. The number of childcare workers in Arkansas is expected to increase by 13.4% through 2026.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers –The annual, average salary for child, family, and school social workers in Arkansas is $38,270. There are 1,500 school social workers found throughout the state, but their numbers are slated for significant growth in the years ahead. The number of jobs for child, family, and school social workers in Arkansas is projected to increase by 19.3% through 2026 – much higher than the national growth rate of 16%.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education –Arkansas’ 1,410 kindergarten teachers earn an average salary of $46,180. The number of jobs for kindergarten teachers in Arkansas is projected to increase by 8.9% through 2026.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education – The number of preschool teachers throughout Arkansas totals 3,520 – that’s more than twice the number of kindergarten teachers in the state. The annual average salary for these professionals is $33,150, just $1,000 less than the national average. Jobs among preschool teachers in Arkansas are projected to rise by 15.4% through 2026, which is considerably higher than the national growth rate of 10%.
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School –Special education teachers in kindergarten and elementary school settings earn an annual, average salary of $49,740, or about $14,000 less than the national average. There are 1,290 of these educational professionals in Arkansas – that’s nearly three times the number of preschool special education teachers in the state. The number of jobs for these professionals is expected to rise by 9% in Arkansas through 2026.
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare –Arkansas’ 580 education administrators in preschool and childcare settings earn an average salary of $45,310. Jobs among Arkansas’ education administrators in preschool and childcare settings are projected to increase by 17.9% through 2026 – much higher than the national growth rate of 11% in this occupation.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool –There are 450 special education teachers working in preschool settings in Arkansas. The annual, average salary for these professionals is $46,870. Special education teacher jobs in Arkansas preschools are projected to increase by 21% through 2026 – more than double the national projected job growth rate of 8%.
City-Level Job Stats
You’ll find significant salary differences throughout Arkansas in the early childhood education sphere. For example, in Hot Springs, preschool teachers earn an average salary of $24,560, while in Jonesboro, the average for these professionals is much higher, at $39,570 – that’s more than $5,000 above the national average.
Preschool Teachers
- Memphis TN-MS-AR – 1,260 teachers earning an average of $32,810
- Little Rock – North Little Rock – Conway, AR – 810 teachers earning an average of $34,640
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO – 930 teachers earning an average of $30,880
- Fort Smith, AR-OK – 20 teachers earning an average of $30,710
- Texarkana-Texarkana TX-AR – 160 teachers earning an average of $24,710
- Hot Springs, AR – average salary of $24,560
- Jonesboro, AR – 270 teachers earning an average of $39,570
- Pine Bluff, AR – 50 teachers earning an average of $37,210
Kindergarten Teachers
- Memphis TN-MS-AR – 620 teachers earning an average of $55,180
- Little Rock – North Little Rock – Conway, AR – 190 teachers earning an average of $47,670
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO – 240 teachers earning an average of $49,160
- Fort Smith, AR-OK – 170 teachers earning an average of $46,800
- Hot Springs, AR – 40 teachers earning an average of $50,840
- Jonesboro, AR – 100 teachers earning an average of $46,100
- Pine Bluff, AR – 50 teachers earning an average of $46,550
Special Education Teachers – Preschool
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO – 90 teachers earning an average of $59,350
- Jonesboro, AR – 50 teachers earning an average of $44,810
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School
- Memphis TN-MS-AR – 1,570 teachers earning an average of $56,390
- Little Rock – North Little Rock – Conway, AR – 290 teachers earning an average of $53,650
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO – 190 teachers earning an average of $56,290
- Fort Smith, AR-OK – 110 teachers earning an average of $49,250
- Texarkana-Texarkana TX-AR – 80 teachers earning an average of $45,630
- Hot Springs, AR – 30 teachers earning an average of $54,790
- Jonesboro, AR – 60 teachers earning an average of $43,930
- Pine Bluff, AR – 40 teachers earning an average of $49,950
Education Administrators – Preschool and Childcare
- Memphis TN-MS-AR – 200 teachers earning an average of $57,340
- Little Rock – North Little Rock – Conway, AR – 130 teachers earning an average of $45,700
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO – 90 teachers earning an average of $48,600
- Fort Smith, AR-OK – 40 teachers earning an average of $36,950
- Hot Springs, AR – average salary of $42,620
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_ar.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.