Early Childhood Education Jobs in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a state in motion when it comes to early childhood learning, and for the preschool teachers and administrators who are committed to educating and caring for the state’s youngest learners, this sort of progress translates into exceptional professional opportunities.
A $100,000 planning grant in 2019 has set plans in motion for improving the availability and quality of infant and toddler care throughout the state. This grant, one of just 11 awarded by the Pritzker Children’s Initiative, will allow early childhood educators, advocates, and community leaders to come together to devise policy recommendations that will eventually lead to exciting changes in the state’s early learning field. Once policy recommendations have been developed, Wisconsin can then apply for a $1 million implementation grant to begin the process of transforming planning into action.
This effort is a critical one, as more than 54% of Wisconsin residents live in an area with a lack of early childhood care – usually because of difficulty finding and retaining early childhood workers.
Pursue a career in early childhood education in Wisconsin and you can be part of an exciting time of change that’s sure to lead to a bright future in early childhood learning.
Wisconsin 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 Childcare Workers
in the US for Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare
in the US for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Early Childhood Jobs in Wisconsin
Average salaries among Wisconsin’s preschool teachers, special ed teachers in early childhood settings, preschool administrators and even kindergarten teachers and others in the broader sphere of ECE often shine bright when compared with their Midwest neighbors in surrounding states.
Strong salaries combined with a persistent statewide demand for teachers makes Wisconsin a land of many opportunities for the early childhood educators who work here.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Median Annual Salary | % of US Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Childcare Workers | 5,880 | $22,630 |  98% |
|
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 10,180 | $26,550 | 77% |
|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 3,920 | $48,440 | 97% |
|
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | 1,640 | $56,210 | 89% |
|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,630 | $57,340 | 98% |
|
| Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare | 780 | $46,710 | 87% |
|
= Salary below nat’l. avg.  = Salary above nat’l. avg. |
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Early childhood educator salaries in Wisconsin are often competitive with the national average. growth projections in the Badger State are steady due to a longstanding and consistent demand for teachers in the state.
Childcare Workers – Wisconsin is home to 5,880 childcare workers who earn an average salary of $22,630. Jobs in this field are projected to increase at a rate of 5.7% through 2026.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers – There are 3,920 child, family, and school social workers in Wisconsin, and these professionals earn an average salary of $48,440, which is quite consistent with the national average of $49,760. The projected job growth rate for these specialized social workers is 11.8% through 2026.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education – There are 1,630 kindergarten teachers employed in Wisconsin, and they earn an average salary of $57,340 – just slightly below the national average salary of $58,370.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education – Wisconsin’s 10,180 preschool teachers earn an average salary of $26,550. There are more than six times the number of preschool teachers in Wisconsin than kindergarten teachers, and that number is only expected to grow in the coming years as demand increases.
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School – There are 1,640 special education teachers in kindergarten and elementary school settings in Wisconsin, and these early childhood educators earn an average salary of $56,210.
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare – Wisconsin’s 780 education administrators in preschool and childcare settings earn an average salary of $46,710.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool – Wisconsin is home to 110 special education teachers in preschool settings, and these early childhood educators earn an average salary of $45,780. Jobs in this profession are projected to increase 9.1% through 2026, which is higher than the national growth rate of 8% during this period.
City-Level Job Stats
In many of Wisconsin’s metro areas, salaries for early childhood educators actually exceed the national average. For example, preschool teachers in the Bloomington area earn an average salary of $37,960 – that’s about $3,000 more than the national average.
Preschool Teachers
- Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI – 19,560 licensed teachers with an average salary of $31,600
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI – 5,580 licensed teachers with an average salary of $37,960
- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis – 3,190 licensed teachers with an average salary of $26,170
- Madison – 1,550 licensed teachers with an average salary of $28,090
- Green Bay – 700 licensed teachers with an average salary of $31,050
- Appleton – 590 licensed teachers with an average salary of $31,260
- Duluth, MN-WI – 530 licensed teachers with an average salary of $34,740
- Racine – 330 licensed teachers with an average salary of $24,700
- Eau Claire – 310 licensed teachers with an average salary of $25,470
- La Crosse, WI-MN – 360 licensed teachers with an average salary of $27,510
- Janesville – 240 licensed teachers with an average salary of $24,920
- Wausau – 110 licensed teachers with an average salary of $24,650
- Oshkosh-Neenah – 250 licensed teachers with an average salary of $24,410
- Fond du Lac – 170 licensed teachers with an average salary of $21,160
Kindergarten Teachers
- Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI – 3,430 licensed teachers with an average salary of $56,680
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI – 2,170 licensed teachers with an average salary of $64,230
- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis – average salary of $61,320
- Madison – 170 licensed teachers with an average salary of $66,610
- Green Bay – 50 licensed teachers with an average salary of $52,100
- Appleton – 100 licensed teachers with an average salary of $62,220
- Duluth, MN-WI – 160 licensed teachers with an average salary of $58,880
- Racine – 60 licensed teachers with an average salary of $56,140
- Eau Claire – 60 licensed teachers with an average salary of $53,280
- La Crosse, WI-MN – 150 licensed teachers with an average salary of $53,790
Special Education Teachers – Preschool
- Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI – 940 licensed teachers with an average salary of $56,320
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI – 950 licensed teachers with an average salary of $66,750
- Duluth, MN-WI – 40 licensed teachers with an average salary of $46,780
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School
- Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI – 7,510 licensed teachers with an average salary of $66,640
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI –3,010 licensed teachers with an average salary of $66,780
- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis – 460 licensed teachers with an average salary of $58,190
- Madison – 250 licensed teachers with an average salary of $66,120
- Green Bay – 80 licensed teachers with an average salary of $53,790
- Appleton – 120 licensed teachers with an average salary of $62,310
- Duluth, MN-WI – 140 licensed teachers with an average salary of $55,650
- Racine – 50 licensed teachers with an average salary of $54,120
- Eau Claire – 70 licensed teachers with an average salary of $50,910
- La Crosse, WI-MN –average salary of $43,860
Education Administrators – Preschool and Childcare
- Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI – 1,920 licensed teachers with an average salary of $62,440
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI – 580 licensed teachers with an average salary of $60,410
- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis – 230 licensed teachers with an average salary of $48,930
- Madison – 170 licensed teachers with an average salary of $51,550
- Green Bay – 50 licensed teachers with an average salary of $37,030
- Appleton – 40 licensed teachers with an average salary of $42,980
- Duluth, MN-WI – 80 licensed teachers with an average salary of $55,770
- Racine –average salary of $47,680
- Eau Claire –average salary of $41,180
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_wi.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.