| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Demonstrate activities to children. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Read books to entire classes or to small groups. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Organize and label materials and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their ages and perceptual skills. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills. |
| Importance: 99 (%) | Description: Assimilate arriving children to the school environment by greeting them, helping them remove outerwear, and selecting activities of interest to them. |
| Importance: 99 (%) | Description: Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips. |
| Importance: 99 (%) | Description: Identify children showing signs of emotional, developmental, or health-related problems and discuss them with supervisors, parents or guardians, and child development specialists. |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to children. |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order. |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Teach proper eating habits and personal hygiene. |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests. |
| Importance: 97 (%) | Description: Arrange indoor and outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, and safety. |
| Importance: 97 (%) | Description: Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress. |
| Importance: 96 (%) | Description: Attend staff meetings and serve on committees as required. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health. |
| Importance: 93 (%) | Description: Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guests, or other experiential activities and guide students in learning from those activities. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and needs, determine their priorities for their children, and suggest ways that they can promote learning and development. |
| Importance: 91 (%) | Description: Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines. |
| Importance: 90 (%) | Description: Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration. |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula. |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of preschool programs. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Administer tests to help determine children's developmental levels, needs, and potential. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, and changing their diapers. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers. |
Associate Degree Entry Level Careers and Jobs
Explore Careers and Jobs Predominantly Filled by Those with an Associate's Degree or Less, having 1 year or less of work experience - All On One Page
Sorted by median annual U.S. salary, including % with Associate's Degree (or less), and % with 1 year experience (or less).
These entry-level roles are open to associate's degree graduates and offer a practical starting point for building experience and advancing. For recent graduates or career changers seeking their first role with a two-year degree. Compare starting salaries and degree-holder percentages, then access preparation resources built for new graduates.
Here is a short Helper Video
.
This page will take you through 4 steps, relative to an Associate's Degree, to (1) Select an entry-level career, (2) Find active job listings, (3) Prepare for the career you chose, and (4) Provide web resources specific to the career you chose.
Step 1: Select a Career: You will be presented with a listing of Associate's Degree entry-level careers. The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of careers below
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover entry-level careers that might be of interest.
Once you have identified a career of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the career you selected. Information includes core and supplemental duties, general and specific work activities, knowledge required, essential and transferable skills required, day-in-the-life summaries, knowledge required, software skills required, preparation required, educational requirements, training and work experience required, local salary information, certifications, professional associations, current job listings for the job selected along with multiple similar job titles, and related careers (related to what they do, what they know, and what they're called).
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that will provide detailed (updated) links to occupational information specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career
Leading Books About Associate Degree Jobs ![]()
What entry level jobs can you get with just an Associate's Degree? Scroll through the picklist (below). These are entry level careers (1 year or less work experience) related to the Associate's Degree level, with at least 30% of job holders having an Associate's Degree. - 426 specific careers are listed. Select those careers that may be of interest - you will then get links to matching active job listings, and detailed resources to help you prepare.
You can use this form two ways:
1) Enter a Keyword - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the listing to those occupations that contain the keyword entered
2) Browse the list (Don't enter a keyword) - You can simply browse the list of occupations. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover jobs that might be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title - Sorted by Annual Salary -(scroll and Select) :
Legend: Career Title Link / (% having Associate's Degree or less) / (% having less than 1 year experience) / (Median Annual U.S. Salary)
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Job Listings for: Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Prepare for the "Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education" Career
The details below will provide a pathway to your specific job goal and help you to identify an appropriate career ladder.
Description: Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
469,600U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
556,000
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
86,400 (18.4%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
59,600
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 44 (%) | Description: Perform administrative duties, such as hall and cafeteria monitoring and bus loading and unloading. |
| Importance: 43 (%) | Description: Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms. |
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Performing General Physical Activities: Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. |
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress. | |
| Apply multiple teaching methods. | |
| Arrange childcare or educational settings to ensure physical safety of children. | |
| Assist students with special educational needs. | |
| Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge. | |
| Collaborate with other teaching professionals to develop educational programs. | |
| Develop instructional objectives. | |
| Develop strategies or programs for students with special needs. | |
| Discuss problems or issues with supervisors. | |
| Discuss student progress with parents or guardians. | |
| Display student work. | |
| Distribute instructional or library materials. | |
| Enforce rules or policies governing student behavior. | |
| Establish rules or policies governing student behavior. | |
| Evaluate performance of educational staff. | |
| Evaluate student work. | |
| Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products. | |
| Maintain student records. | |
| Modify teaching methods or materials to accommodate student needs. | |
| Monitor student behavior, social development, or health. | |
| Monitor student performance. | |
| Order instructional or library materials or equipment. | |
| Plan educational activities. | |
| Plan experiential learning activities. | |
| Prepare reports detailing student activities or performance. | |
| Provide for basic needs of children. | |
| Read to students. | |
| Serve on institutional or departmental committees. | |
| Set up classroom materials or equipment. | |
| Supervise school or student activities. | |
| Supervise student research or internship work. | |
| Teach life skills. | |
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 78 (%) | Description: Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Psychology: Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. |
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Instructing: Teaching others how to do something. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Advise others on educational or vocational matters. |
| Activity: Assess student capabilities, needs, or performance. |
| Activity: Assist individuals with special needs. |
| Activity: Collaborate in the development of educational programs. |
| Activity: Communicate with others about operational plans or activities. |
| Activity: Develop educational programs, plans, or procedures. |
| Activity: Develop safety standards, policies, or procedures. |
| Activity: Distribute materials, supplies, or resources. |
| Activity: Evaluate personnel capabilities or performance. |
| Activity: Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise. |
| Activity: Maintain operational records. |
| Activity: Monitor individual behavior or performance. |
| Activity: Prepare informational or instructional materials. |
| Activity: Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities. |
| Activity: Purchase goods or services. |
| Activity: Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products. |
| Activity: Serve on organizational committees. |
| Activity: Set up classrooms, facilities, educational materials, or equipment. |
| Activity: Supervise personnel activities. |
| Activity: Teach academic or vocational subjects. |
| Activity: Teach life skills. |
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
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| Emerging Tech Skills | ||||||
| Office suite software: | ||||||
| Microsoft Office software | ||||||
| Spreadsheet software: | ||||||
| Microsoft Excel | ||||||
| Word processing software: | ||||||
| Microsoft Word | ||||||
| General Software Tools | ||||||
| Computer based training software (scroll table below): | ||||||
| ||||||
| Desktop communications software: | ||||||
| Bloomz ClassDojo Edmodo Tadpoles | ||||||
| Electronic mail software: | ||||||
| Email software | ||||||
| Mobile messaging service software: | ||||||
| Intrado SchoolMessenger | ||||||
| Multi-media educational software: | ||||||
| Nearpod Seesaw | ||||||
| Project management software: | ||||||
| Google Classroom | ||||||
| Video conferencing software: | ||||||
| Google Meet | ||||||
| Video creation and editing software: | ||||||
| Flipgrid |
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed |
| Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. |
| Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. |
| Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. |
| These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants. |
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 28.8 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 17.2 (%) | Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 12.2 (%) | Level of Education: Some College Courses |
| Frequency of Attainment: 12.0 (%) | Level of Education: Master's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 11.6 (%) | Level of Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 10.3 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 7.9 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. |
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 32.6 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 17.6 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 17.1 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
| Frequency of Attainment: 16.2 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 13.8 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 2.8 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Certifications These are examples of certifications that may be important for this occupation. How can you begin exploring which certifications fit your goals and what steps you would need to take to earn them? |
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Certified Childcare Professional | |
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National Board Certification - Early and Middle Childhood - Literacy: Reading - Language Arts | |
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National Board Certification - Early and Middle Childhood - Music | |
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National Board Certification - Early and Middle Childhood - Physical Education | |
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National Board Certification - Early and Middle Childhood Certificate - Art | |
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National Board Certification - Early and Middle Childhood Certificate - English as a New Language | |
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National Board Certification - Early Childhood - Generalist | |
| Professional Associations These associations connect people who work in this occupation or related fields. How can you start using these associations to learn more, build your network, or find mentoring opportunities? |
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National Association for the Education of Young Children | |
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated)
This section contains detailed resources appropriate to "Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
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