Early Childhood Education Jobs in Indiana
Indiana knows that the key to student achievement in education begins with the state’s youngest learners. Indiana’s need-based preschool program—On My Way Pre-K—has been providing high-quality preschool programs for children of low-income families since 2015. And thanks to a $22 million expansion of the program in 2019, which is expected to double the number of high needs children served from 2,000 to 4,000, early childhood education in Indiana is stronger than ever.
For aspiring and practicing early childhood educators, this type of attention on early childhood learning translates into more varied and exciting professional opportunities in the coming years.
Indiana Salary Rankings
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
in the US for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
in the US for Special Education Teachers, Preschool
Early Childhood Jobs in Indiana
Because Indiana enjoys a lower cost of living than many of the states in America’s Heartland, paychecks for early childhood educators go much further. Special education teachers, both at the preschool and elementary school levels, are among the top earners within the ECE sphere in the state with average salaries that exceed $50,000. But not to be outdone are the state’s kindergarten teachers, who also boast an average salary that tops $50,000.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Median Annual Salary | % of US Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Childcare Workers | 8,100 | $21,620 |  88% |
|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 7,240 | $40,090 | 81% |
|
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 6,510 | $27,250 | 79% |
|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 2,000 | $51,290 | 88% |
|
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | 3,210 | $53,570 | 85% |
|
| Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare | 670 | $44,200 | 82% |
|
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 240 | $50,140 | 81% |
|
= Salary below nat’l. avg.  = Salary above nat’l. avg. |
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Early Childhood Educator Jobs in Indiana
Childcare Workers – There are 8,100 childcare workers employed in Indiana, and these professionals earn an average salary of $21,620. The job growth forecast for these professionals is 7.8% through 2026, which is in line with the nation’s average job growth during this time.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers – Indiana’s 7,240 child, family, and school social workers earn an average salary of $40,090. Employment among these social work specialists in Indiana is expected to rise by 14.4% through 2026.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education – There are 2,000 kindergarten teachers employed in Indiana. These educational professionals earn an average salary of $51,290. The number of jobs in this field is expected to grow by 6.7% through 2026, right in line with the national average for this profession.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education – Indiana’s 6,510 preschool teachers earn an average salary of $27,250. There are about three times as many preschool teachers than kindergarten teachers in Indiana. Preschool teacher jobs here are projected to increase by 8.6% through 2026.
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School – The state’s 3,210 special education teachers in kindergarten and elementary school settings earn $53,570 on average. The number of special ed teachers employed in kindergarten and elementary school settings dwarfs the number of special ed teachers in preschool settings by 2,970. Jobs among Indiana’s special education teachers in kindergarten and elementary schools should increase by 6.1% through 2026.
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare – There are 670 education administrators in preschool and childcare settings employed in Indiana. These professionals earn an average of $44,200. Job growth in this field through 2026 is an impressive 8.8%.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool – Indiana’s 240 special education teachers working in preschools earn an average salary of $50,140. Indiana’s special education teachers in preschool settings are projected to increase by 10.5% – that’s higher than the national projected growth rate of 8% for this occupation.
City-Level Job Stats
There’s no one metropolitan area in Indiana that leads the state in terms of early childhood educator salaries. For example, the average salary for kindergarten teachers in the Jefferson County metro area is an impressive $61,550 – that’s $5,000-$14,000 more than other metropolitan areas in Indiana.
Preschool Teachers
- Chicago-Elgin-Naperville, IL-IN-WI -19,560 licensed teachers with an average salary of $31,600
- Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN – 1,520 licensed teachers with an average salary of $28,300
- Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN – 2,710 licensed teachers with an average salary of $33,380
- Indianapolis-Carmel – 2,550 licensed teachers with an average salary of $29,360
- Evansville, IN-KY – 470 licensed teachers with an average salary of $27,190
- Fort Wayne – 530 licensed teachers with an average salary of $24,540
- South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI – 560 licensed teachers with an average salary of $26,960
- Muncie – 100 licensed teachers with an average salary of $27,640
- Bloomington – 260 licensed teachers with an average salary of $30,320
- Lafayette – 120 licensed teachers with an average salary of $26,780
- Elkhart-Goshen – 160 licensed teachers with an average salary of $24,010
- Kokomo – 80 licensed teachers with an average salary of $24,150
- Columbus – average salary of $28,820
Kindergarten Teachers
- Chicago-Elgin-Naperville, IL-IN-WI – 3,430 licensed teachers with an average salary of $56,680
- Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN – 630 licensed teachers with an average salary of $61,550
- Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN – 720 licensed teachers with an average salary of $52,350
- Indianapolis-Carmel – 570 licensed teachers with an average salary of $54,890
- Evansville, IN-KY – 90 licensed teachers with an average salary of $49,760
- Fort Wayne – 190 licensed teachers with an average salary of $51,260
- South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI –120 licensed teachers with an average salary of $48,950
- Bloomington – 40 licensed teachers with an average salary of $47,940
- Lafayette – 30 licensed teachers with an average salary of $46,050
- Elkhart-Goshen – 150 licensed teachers with an average salary of $49,010
Special Education Teachers – Preschool
- Chicago-Elgin-Naperville, IL-IN-WI – 940 licensed teachers with an average salary of $56,320
- Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN – 170 licensed teachers with an average salary of $70,880
- Indianapolis-Carmel – 80 licensed teachers with an average salary of $52,880
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School
- Chicago-Elgin-Naperville, IL-IN-WI – 7,510 licensed teachers with an average salary of $56,320
- Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN – 710 licensed teachers with an average salary of $60,380
- Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN – 1,320 licensed teachers with an average salary of $59,890
- Indianapolis-Carmel – 1,140 licensed teachers with an average salary of $57,900
- Evansville, IN-KY – average salary of $51,030
- Fort Wayne – 210 licensed teachers with an average salary of $48,210
- South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI – 150 licensed teachers with an average salary of $46,100
- Bloomington – 50 licensed teachers with an average salary of $52,950
- Lafayette – average salary of $54,420
- Terre Haute – 40 licensed teachers with an average salary of $58,850
- Elkhart-Goshen – 130 licensed teachers with an average salary of $45,150
Education Administrators – Preschool and Childcare
- Chicago-Elgin-Naperville, IL-IN-WI – 1,920 licensed teachers with an average salary of $62,440
- Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN – 220 licensed teachers with an average salary of $43,270
- Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN – 420 licensed teachers with an average salary of $49,920
- Indianapolis-Carmel – 310 licensed teachers with an average salary of $44,100
- Fort Wayne – 60 licensed teachers with an average salary of $45,440
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_in.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.