The basic preschool teacher salary in the UK is £19,142 per year while in the US the salary ranges between is between $28,175 and $51,990 a year. In Canada, preschool teacher salary is between $32,000 and $40,000, but this depends on years of experience. In Australia, the range is between $52,000 and $64,000 per year, and this also depends on years of experience.
In other countries like Switzerland is 26,420 per year and in Norway, it is $32,700 a year, and as compared to the above a Norwegian teacher is paid much lower than those of other countries.
In all the countries salaries are given based on years of experience, education level of an individual and location of the school. The economy of the country also matters and used as one of the determinants of the preschool teacher salary.
Preschool Teacher Salary Influencers
Salary can get determined by supply and demand, Government legislation, productivity, the ability of a school to pay and this is applicable across the board in all the countries mentioned and the rest of the world.
1. Industry
Salary can get determined by supply and demand, Government legislation, productivity, the ability of a school to pay and this is applicable across the board in all the countries mentioned and the rest of the world.
The teaching profession has a lot of challenges though when handled correctly it is one of the best profession that one can ever have. The authorities have come up with policies that govern the preschool teacher salaries and how they can get implemented, but this applies to public schools.
Private schools also do have a different remuneration package depending on the quality of services they offer. The persons in charge of the human resource are tasked with coming up with policies that govern both private and public schools’ preschool teachers salaries.
Bonuses also vary depending on the experience of preschool teachers, the level of education and also other benefits that the employer deems fit to motivate his workers.
2. Geographical area
| Preschool Teacher Salary | Hourly Wage | Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| US | $12.34 | $41,550 |
| Canada | $16.55 | $35,165 |
| UK | £7.18 | £19,545 |
| Australia | $25 | $90,521 |
| Switzerland | $26.52 | $50,243 |
| Norway | $13 | $53,333 |
Preschool Teacher Salary in the US
The hourly wage of a preschool teacher in the US is around $12.34. As mentioned, this depends a lot on whether the teachers work for a private or public institution. A preschool teacher salary can be supplemented by bonuses.
Preschool Teacher Salary in Canada
A preschool teacher salary in Canada can reach up to $35,165 annually. Just like in the US, Canadian preschool teachers who work for private kindergartens may earn considerably more.
Preschool Teacher Salary in the UK
In the UK, a preschool teacher can earn £7.18 per hour, or $9.30. Thus, British preschool teachers earn considerably less than their US counterparts.
Preschool Teacher Salary in Australia
Australian preschool teachers will earn between $52,000 and $64,000. In Australia, one of the biggest determiners of a preschool teacher salary is experience, thus, individual salary levels can be quite different, even though the salary range might not indicate it.
Preschool Teacher Salary in Switzerland
Preschool teachers in Norway can expect to earn $50,243 annually. High costs of living mean this the Swiss preschool teacher salary is not as high as it may appear.
Preschool Teacher Salary in Norway
Norwegian preschool teachers earn a very high salary compared to the other countries mentioned. However, much like in Switzerland, high living costs make this salary relatively average. Experience and education are strong determining factors.
3. Experience
On average, the preschool teacher earns $41,550 per annum which is more that the average wage paid to other teaching departments. At the start of employment, a preschool teacher can be paid $28,175 per year but revised annually as per the experience. In Canada, a beginner can earn $32,000 which is average as compared to other levels of the teaching staff. While in the UK a beginner can earn £19,142 per year, in Switzerland a beginner also can earn $26,240 per annum largely based on the educational level. Finally, in Norway, a beginner preschool teacher can have a salary of $32,000. It takes experience and advancement in the education level of the teacher for bonuses to be added and patience is of value here. The positive effect of this is that the preschool teacher will become a pro.
Working Hours
Working hours in all the countries are similar. Mostly, working hours for one day is eight hours past this hours overtime is applied. Some can operate for more hours than the rest depending on the technicality of the subject and if there are other duties assigned to the preschool teacher that require some extra time to work.
Bonuses and Benefits Packages
Benefit packages and bonuses for the US range between $27,000 to $29,000, in the UK the benefits range from £17,000 to £20,000 annually. While in Canada benefits packages can add up to $39,000 to $41,000, in Switzerland packages the range is from $69,000 to $80,000 per year, in Australia, they range between $58,000 to $64,000, and in Norway, the benefits packages and bonuses range between $35,000 to $48,000. The figures above include tips and overtime pay as bonuses.
In the US medical covers to preschool teachers are minimal and some institutions do not offer medical covers at all. In Canada however, preschool teachers are given medical covers that are based on a contract basis. This means they are not continuous but are renewable yearly. In the UK, the preschool teachers are given the basic medical cover which covers a variety of health issues though still not as much as the other teaching staff at a higher level while in Switzerland the offers are almost the same as for the UK but covering much fewer health issues. Finally, in Australia medical cover is given to the preschool teachers also on a contract basis but covers a broad range of illnesses.
Job Outlook
The job of teaching children very young is a calling. A teacher as to be very patient and go down to the level of the child so that they can understand each other. Once a teacher is not at par with the child, teaching will become difficult. In the US the number of preschool teachers is 441,000, in Canada the total number is 261,275 teachers.
It is good for an individual to invest in going to school and colleges to gain knowledge so that others can benefit out of it. Education enables one to look at things differently and determine the outcome. Even if one does not get employed after investing in education, the knowledge acquired can be used to benefit others like starting a preschool or anything that will have an impact on a large number of people.
Conclusion
Preschool teachers represent some of the most influential people in our society. They mold young children from an early age which most of us cannot do because of the high degree of patience that is involved. Their salaries should be sufficient enough to support them and those that depend on them.
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