Early Childhood Education Jobs in Connecticut

Connecticut’s early childhood education system is already a national leader (it ranks among the top in the nation for its expenditure on students), so it only makes sense that this state continue the trend of developing some of the most innovative and cutting-edge resources for its earliest learners and the educators who teach them.

For example, there has always been something of a disconnect between preschool curriculum and what is taught in the K-12 system, not only in Connecticut but throughout the country. With this in mind, education leaders in Connecticut have begun bridging this gap through an innovative “landscape analysis tool,” which is designed to help principals and other administrators collect and examine data about the state’s students before they enter kindergarten.

This bridge between early childhood education and K-12 is just one of example of Connecticut’s commitment to education at every level and why a job in early childhood education here isn’t just a job – it’s an exceptional opportunity to be part of one of the most progressive educational systems in the country.

Early Childhood Jobs in Connecticut

Connecticut – It’s one of the wealthiest states in the nation, and this wealth translates to an educational system that produces results in the form of strong student outcomes. In fact, Connecticut’s investments in public education are among the highest seen anywhere. It comes as no surprise then that salaries for Connecticut’s early childhood education professionals also come out on top.

Occupation	Total Employed	Median Annual Salary	% of US Median
Childcare Workers	9,490	$27,400	111%
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	5,690	$43,350	126%
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	5,370	$69,520	140%
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	2,860	$76,780	122%
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	1,450	$77,220	132%
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare	720	$60,700	112%
Special Education Teachers, Preschool	180	$68,130	111%
= Salary below nat’l. avg.      = Salary above nat’l. avg.

Salaries for jobs within the early childhood education sphere in Connecticut beat out the national average across the board. In nearly all occupational categories, Connecticut is ranked among the top five states in the nation for teacher pay.

Childcare Workers – There are 9,490 childcare workers in Connecticut earning an annual average salary of $27,400, or about $3,000 more than the national average. Jobs among Connecticut’s childcare workers are projected to increase by 7.4% through 2026.

Child, Family, and School Social Workers – The 5,370 child, family, and school social workers in Connecticut earn an annual salary of $69,520 – nearly $20,000 more than the national average. In this category, Connecticut is ranked second in the nation in terms of annual salary, behind only Washington D.C. The employment level for social workers serving schools, families and children in Connecticut is projected to increase by 7.7% through 2026.

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education – Connecticut’s kindergarten teachers make up a contingent that is 1,450 strong. The annual average salary for these professionals is $77,220, nearly $20,000 more than the national average, ranking Connecticut second in the nation for this category.

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education – Preschool teacher jobs in Connecticut pay an average salary of $43,350, which is about $9,000 more than the national average. Connecticut’s preschool teachers also hold the number two spot in terms of national salary rankings, behind only New York. Jobs for preschool teachers in Connecticut are projected to increase by 3.5% through 2026.

Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School – Special education teachers in kindergarten and elementary school settings earn a salary of $76,780, or about $13,000 more than the national average. The 2,860 professionals in this category are ranked fifth in the nation in terms of average salary.

Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare – Connecticut’s education administrators in preschool and childcare settings earn an annual average salary of $60,700. That’s $6,000 more than the national average. Connecticut’s preschool administrators are ranked third in the nation in terms of average pay. There are 720 administrators currently working in Connecticut’s preschool and childcare settings. The number of administrators in Connecticut preschool and childcare settings is projected to rise by 4% through 2026.

Special Education Teachers, Preschool – Special education teachers in preschool settings in Connecticut earn about $10,000 more than the national average – $68,130 versus the national average of $58,390. The 180 specialists working in these jobs are ranked fourth in the nation in terms of average salary. Special education teacher jobs in Connecticut preschools are projected to increase by 9.1% through 2026 – that’s slightly higher than the national projection of 8% for this occupation during the same period.

City-Level Job Stats

With teachers, administrators and others in the early childhood education sphere earning salaries that consistently come in above the national average as seen when looking at it from the state level, it’s only natural to expect the figures in specific cities in the state to be equally impressive. For example, special education specialists in preschool settings in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk metro region are ranked second in the nation for pay, while special education teachers in Danbury’s kindergarten and elementary schools are ranked fourth.

Preschool Teachers

• Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 1,700 $45,410
• Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 1,960 $44,790
• Springfield, MA-CT 1,310 $39,930
• New Haven, CT 910 $37,830
• Norwich-New London, CT-RI 250 $40,120
• Worcester, MA-CT 740 $40,580
• Waterbury, CT 370 $44,380
• Danbury, CT $37,150

Kindergarten Teachers

• Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 420 $76,530
• Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 380 $79,670
• Springfield, MA-CT 310 $80,880
• New Haven, CT 310 $78,480
• Norwich-New London, CT-RI 110 $72,150
• Worcester, MA-CT 240 $69,160
• Waterbury, CT 100 $70,600
• Danbury, CT 70 $77,370

Special Education Teachers – Preschool

• Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 60 $63,350
• Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 50 $63,800
• Springfield, MA-CT 80 $87,610
• Worcester, MA-CT 140 $60,550

Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School

• Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 740 $79,020
• Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 930 $77,040
• Springfield, MA-CT 80 $87,610
• New Haven, CT 610 $76,700
• Norwich-New London, CT-RI 160 $69,960
• Worcester, MA-CT 480 $71,550
• Waterbury, CT 160 $69,820
• Danbury, CT 80 $87,950

Education Administrators – Preschool and Childcare

• Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 220 $67,240
• Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 210 $61,550
• Springfield, MA-CT 190 $55,360
• New Haven, CT 100 $60,370
• Norwich-New London, CT-RI 60 $43,310
• Worcester, MA-CT 180 $55,360
• Waterbury, CT 60 $63,320
• Danbury, CT $51,100

 

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_al.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.