Jobs Similar to Preschool Teachers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to preschool teachers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Special Education Teachers (Preschool), Kindergarten Teachers and Childcare Workers.
Preschool Teachers: $38,140 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Preschool Teachers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Special Education Teachers, PreschoolSame group | 84% | $64,830+70% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationSame group | 83% | $62,680+64% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Childcare Workers | 83% | $34,980−8% | High school |
| 4 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationSame group | 82% | $63,970+68% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSame group | 82% | $72,040+89% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | 81% | $41,670+9% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolSame group | 81% | $74,260+95% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Adapted Physical Education SpecialistsSame group | 81% | $76,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolSame group | 80% | $66,810+75% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Recreational Therapists | 80% | $61,960+62% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolSame group | 80% | $66,270+74% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Nannies | 79% | $34,980Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 13 | Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSame group | 79% | $64,370+69% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | 79% | $61,540+61% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Self-Enrichment Teachers | 79% | $46,800+23% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | 78% | $100,330Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle SchoolSame group | 78% | $65,030+71% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 77% | $75,870+99% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | 77% | $64,330+69% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Psychiatric Technicians | 77% | $45,130+18% | Training or associate |
- 1Special Education Teachers, Preschool
84% similar · $64,830 (+70%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
83% similar · $62,680 (+64%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Childcare Workers
83% similar · $34,980 (−8%) · High school
- 4Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
82% similar · $63,970 (+68%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
82% similar · $72,040 (+89%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
81% similar · $41,670 (+9%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
81% similar · $74,260 (+95%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Adapted Physical Education Specialists
81% similar · $76,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Special Education Teachers, Middle School
80% similar · $66,810 (+75%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Recreational Therapists
80% similar · $61,960 (+62%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
80% similar · $66,270 (+74%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Nannies
79% similar · $34,980 (broader group) · High school
- 13Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
79% similar · $64,370 (+69%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
79% similar · $61,540 (+61%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Self-Enrichment Teachers
79% similar · $46,800 (+23%) · Training or associate
- 16Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
78% similar · $100,330 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 17Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
78% similar · $65,030 (+71%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
77% similar · $75,870 (+99%) · Graduate degree
- 19Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
77% similar · $64,330 (+69%) · Graduate degree
- 20Psychiatric Technicians
77% similar · $45,130 (+18%) · 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 preschool teachers.
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 preschool teachers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where preschool teachers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like preschool teachers
What jobs are most similar to preschool teachers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Special Education Teachers (Preschool) (84% similar), Kindergarten Teachers (83% similar), Childcare Workers (83% similar), Elementary School Teachers (82% similar) and Secondary School Teachers (82% similar).
Which jobs like preschool teachers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers ($75,870, +99%; usually a graduate degree), Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) ($74,260, +95%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Secondary School Teachers ($72,040, +89%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with preschool teachers ($38,140). Without more preparation than preschool teachers usually need: Self-Enrichment Teachers and Psychiatric Technicians.
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.