Jobs Similar to Kindergarten Teachers
Also called: Kindergarten Teachers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to kindergarten teachers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers and Secondary School Teachers.
Kindergarten Teachers: $62,680 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
88% similar · $63,970 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
87% similar · $64,370 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
87% similar · $72,040 (+15%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Special Education Teachers, Middle School
86% similar · $66,810 (+7%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
86% similar · $74,260 (+18%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
84% similar · $61,540 (−2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
84% similar · $41,670 (−34%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
83% similar · $38,140 (−39%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 9Special Education Teachers, Preschool
83% similar · $64,830 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
82% similar · $66,270 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Tutors
81% similar · $43,350 (−31%) · Training or associate
- 12Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
81% similar · $65,030 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $75,870 (+21%) · Graduate degree
- 14Instructional Coordinators
80% similar · $77,440 (+24%) · Graduate degree
- 15Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
80% similar · $64,330 (+3%) · Graduate degree
- 16English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $78,760 (+26%) · Graduate degree
- 17Education Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $75,350 (+20%) · Graduate degree
- 18Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $77,570 (+24%) · Graduate degree
- 19School Psychologists
79% similar · $95,990 (+53%) · Graduate degree
- 20Self-Enrichment Teachers
79% similar · $46,800 (−25%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than kindergarten teachers.
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School86% similar · $74,260 (+18%)
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education87% similar · $72,040 (+15%)
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School86% similar · $66,810 (+7%)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School82% similar · $66,270 (+6%)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School81% similar · $65,030 (+4%)
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education87% similar · $64,370 (+3%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for kindergarten teachers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where kindergarten teachers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term (94)
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors (91)
- Tutors (80)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (78)
- Self-Enrichment Teachers (78)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (77)
- Recreational Therapists (77)
- Community Health Workers (76)
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (76)
- Music Therapists (76)
Questions about jobs like kindergarten teachers
What jobs are most similar to kindergarten teachers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Elementary School Teachers (88% similar), Middle School Teachers (87% similar), Secondary School Teachers (87% similar), Special Education Teachers (Middle School) (86% similar) and Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) (86% similar).
Which jobs like kindergarten teachers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, School Psychologists ($95,990, +53%; usually a graduate degree), English Language and Literature Teachers ($78,760, +26%; usually a graduate degree) and Instructional Coordinators ($77,440, +24%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with kindergarten teachers ($62,680). Without more preparation than kindergarten teachers usually need: Special Education Teachers (Secondary School), Secondary School Teachers and Special Education Teachers (Middle School).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.