Preschool Teacher: What is the cost of hiring?

What is a preschool teacher?

A preschool teacher is an early childhood educator responsible for guiding young children through foundational learning experiences before kindergarten. They create a safe and nurturing environment that supports social, emotional and cognitive growth, helping children develop essential skills for lifelong learning.

Why hire a preschool teacher?

A preschool teacher guides young children through foundational learning, fostering their social, emotional and cognitive development in a safe, nurturing environment. Their work enhances a company’s reputation by supporting families and investing in the future workforce. You may want to hire for this role if there is a growing demand for on-site childcare or family support benefits, or if there is an increased enrollment or waitlist for existing preschool programs.

Contributions of a great preschool teacher:

• nurturing early childhood development through engaging, age-appropriate instruction
• creating a positive, safe learning environment for young children
• strengthening family and community engagement, reflecting well on the business

Defining your hiring needs for a preschool teacher

Begin by assessing the scope of your childcare needs, including enrollment growth and program requirements, to identify staffing gaps. Create a budget that accounts for salary, benefits and resources, then choose a clear, accurate job title (e.g., “Preschool Teacher” versus “Childcare Worker”). Decide whether your needs require a full-time, part-time or freelance position. If the role is commonly confused with others, review role comparisons. For example, see guides comparing preschool teachers to daycare providers or teaching assistants for clarity.

What are the types of preschool teachers?

When writing your preschool teacher job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on preschool teacher jobs, according to Indeed data:

• early childhood educator
• ece
• child care
• early childhood assistant
• teacher
• daycare

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Where to find a preschool teacher

To find the right preschool teacher for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Job boards: Local and national early childhood education job boards (such as Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia or the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario) offer access to candidates with specialized training and are widely used by professionals across the country.
• Industry conferences: Attending regional or national industry conferences, such as the Canadian Child Care Federation’s annual meeting, allows you to network directly with certified educators and learn about emerging top talent in the field.
• Educational partnerships: Partnering with post-secondary institutions offering early childhood education programs (e.g. community colleges or universities) can connect you with recent graduates eager to start their careers.
• Promote from within: Encouraging teaching assistants or support staff to pursue additional qualifications for preschool roles helps retain institutional knowledge and motivates growth within your organization.

Post your job online. Try posting your preschool teacher job on Indeed to find and attract quality preschool teacher candidates.

Skills to look for in a preschool teacher

A successful preschool teacher candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experiences, training or education:

• child development expertise with a deep understanding of early childhood development stages, needs and best practices
• classroom management and the ability to create a structured, safe and nurturing environment while managing routines and behaviour positively
• strong verbal and written communication abilities with children, families and colleagues
• creativity and lesson planning to design engaging, age-appropriate activities that promote learning through play and exploration
• patience, empathy and sensitive relationship-building with young children and diverse families
• collaboration, teamwork and a willingness to work effectively with other educators, support staff and external partners to enhance program quality

Writing a preschool teacher job description

Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular job-seeker search terms and hiring insights for a preschool teacher, you’re ready to write a job description.

A preschool teacher job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your open role.

Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing preschool teacher job descriptions.

Interviewing candidates for a preschool teacher position

Strong candidates for preschool teacher positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• child development and age-appropriate practices
• classroom management and behaviour guidance
• communication with families and colleagues
• lesson planning and creative curriculum design
• collaboration, teamwork and professional growth

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of preschool teacher interview questions.