Early Childhood Teacher
Early childhood teachers plan and run play-based learning programs for children from birth to about five, in the years before formal school starts.
- Median salary
- $99,100
3.8%vs last year, before tax
- People employed
- 71,900
0.8%vs last year
- Projected growth
- +12.1%
to 2035
- AI exposure*
- Moderate
- 4 out of 10
- Average hours
- 41/wk
+1h vs all jobs
- Shortage status
- In shortage
national
- Most early childhood teachers work in long day care centres, kindergartens and preschools, usually as the educational lead in a room staffed by educators and assistants.
- The difference from an early childhood educator is the degree and the responsibility that comes with it: you design the program and assess each child's learning and development.
- You'll need an ACECQA approved teaching qualification, and teacher registration is required in some states and territories but not others.
How much do early childhood teachers earn?
The median full-time salary for an early childhood teacher is $99,100 per annum, before tax, up $20,500 since 2018.
The Children's Services Award or an enterprise agreement decides your rate, and a funded kindergarten program usually pays better than a long day care centre. Some services offer above-award pay to fill qualified teacher positions, particularly where qualified staff are hard to find. Ask whether programming and documentation time is paid or expected outside your rostered hours, and check whether a quoted salary is for a full-time load, since part-time and casual contracts are common in this sector.
What does an early childhood teacher do day to day?
The list below is what fills most weeks; the exact mix shifts with seniority and whatever stage the current work is at.
- Planning and running play-based programs that follow the Early Years Learning Framework
- Observing children and writing learning stories, then using those records to plan what comes next
- Supervising children through daily routines such as meals, rest and outdoor play
- Meeting with families about their child's progress, and about concerns that come up
- Keeping records and practices in line with the National Quality Framework and child safety requirements
What skills do early childhood teachers need?
Employers look for teaching and instruction, curriculum and lesson design, classroom and behaviour management, backed by Storypark fluency and strong empathy and interpersonal care.
Specialist skills
- Teaching and instruction
- Curriculum and lesson design
- Classroom and behaviour management
- Student assessment and reporting
- Pastoral care and wellbeing
Software and tools
- Storypark
- Xplor Education
- Kindyhub
- Educa
- Microsoft Office
General skills
- Empathy and interpersonal care
- Written communication
- People leadership
Is the job growing?
About 71,900 people work as early childhood teachers in Australia, and employment is projected to grow 12.1% over the decade to 2035. That's healthy, above-average growth, and the role should stay in solid demand.
How do you become an early childhood teacher?
Here's the path most early childhood teachers take, step by step.
- 1Complete an ACECQA approved teaching qualification
A Bachelor of Early Childhood Education usually takes about four years and includes supervised professional experience in services, which is where you find out whether the daily reality of a room suits you.
- 2Look at graduate entry if you already have a degree
A graduate diploma in early childhood education runs for roughly eighteen months to two years and leads to the same qualification, which makes it the faster route for career changers.
- 3Meet your state's registration and screening requirements
Teacher registration is required for some roles in some states and territories, and not in others, so check your own. Most employers also ask for a working with children check and current first aid, anaphylaxis and asthma certificates.
- 4Choose a first service with support built in
Ask about paid programming time, whether an educational leader or mentor works on site, and how many qualified teachers are on staff, because those three things decide how manageable your first year feels.
Study routes we have checked
Qualifications that are a recognised way into this role, and what else you need.
- Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education
A recognised route into this role
Choose an ACECQA-approved early-childhood-teacher qualification for the intended age range and jurisdiction. Complete placements, screening and applicable teacher-registration requirements; educator certificates and diplomas are different routes. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
- Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
A recognised route into this role
Choose an ACECQA-approved early-childhood-teacher qualification for the intended age range and jurisdiction. Complete placements, screening and applicable teacher-registration requirements; educator certificates and diplomas are different routes. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
- Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five)
A recognised route into this role
Choose an ACECQA-approved early-childhood-teacher qualification for the intended age range and jurisdiction. Complete placements, screening and applicable teacher-registration requirements; educator certificates and diplomas are different routes. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
- Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood & Primary)
A recognised route into this role
Choose an ACECQA-approved early-childhood-teacher qualification for the intended age range and jurisdiction. Complete placements, screening and applicable teacher-registration requirements; educator certificates and diplomas are different routes. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
- Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary)
A recognised route into this role
Choose an ACECQA-approved early-childhood-teacher qualification for the intended age range and jurisdiction. Complete placements, screening and applicable teacher-registration requirements; educator certificates and diplomas are different routes. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
- Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
A recognised route into this role
Choose an ACECQA-approved early-childhood-teacher qualification for the intended age range and jurisdiction. Complete placements, screening and applicable teacher-registration requirements; educator certificates and diplomas are different routes. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
- Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching)
A recognised route into this role
Choose an ACECQA-approved early-childhood-teacher qualification for the intended age range and jurisdiction. Complete placements, screening and applicable teacher-registration requirements; educator certificates and diplomas are different routes. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
- Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
A recognised route into this role
Choose an ACECQA-approved early-childhood-teacher qualification for the intended age range and jurisdiction. Complete placements, screening and applicable teacher-registration requirements; educator certificates and diplomas are different routes. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
- Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education
A recognised route into this role
Choose an ACECQA approved early childhood teacher qualification for the intended age range and state. Complete placements, screening checks and any teacher registration requirements; the course alone does not confer registration. Check the chosen provider, program and intake; the family level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
- Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education
A recognised route into this role
Choose a program approved as an early childhood teacher qualification, usually alongside a prior degree. Complete placements, screening and applicable teacher registration requirements; the course alone does not confer registration. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
- Master of Teaching (Early Childhood)
A recognised route into this role
Choose an ACECQA approved early childhood teacher qualification for the intended age range and state. Complete placements, screening checks and any teacher registration requirements; the course alone does not confer registration. Check the chosen provider, program and intake; the family level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
Ready to apply as an early childhood teacher?
Whether you're working toward becoming an early childhood teacher or already are one and want a hand with the next step (sharpening your resume for ATS screening, tightening your cover letter, or knowing what you'll actually be asked at interview), here are examples grounded in this specific role, not generic templates.
What jobs can an early childhood teacher move to?
Moving into Middle School Teacher typically comes with the biggest pay rise, worth $26,900 a year more on average.
- Middle School TeacherRecorded move$126,000+$26,900
- Secondary School TeacherRecorded move$120,700+$21,600
- Primary School TeacherRecorded move$115,800+$16,700
- Special Education TeacherRecorded move$112,300+$13,200
Thick lines are moves people were recorded making in Jobs and Skills Australia's Data on Occupation Mobility (income tax records, 2011-12 to 2020-21). Thin lines are moves we suggest from skill overlap and entry requirements.
| Move to | Typical pay change | Overlap | Retraining |
|---|---|---|---|
Middle School Teacher Early childhood teachers bring foundational curriculum knowledge and pastoral care to middle school, where they support students transitioning into adolescence.Known move | +$26,900 | 94% | minimal |
Secondary School Teacher Early childhood teachers bring pedagogical skills and student wellbeing expertise to secondary teaching, though subject specialisation may be needed.Known move | +$21,600 | 89% | minimal |
Primary School Teacher Early childhood teachers bring child development knowledge and play-based learning to primary classrooms, with registration allowing a move across sectors.Known move | +$16,700 | 80% | minimal |
Special Education Teacher Early childhood teachers bring inclusive practice and developmental expertise to special education, adapting their skills to students with diverse needs.Known move | +$13,200 | 89% | minimal |
Childcare Centre Manager Early childhood teachers bring curriculum leadership and child development knowledge to centre management, with business and compliance skills added through further study.Known move | +$4,000 | 17% | reskill |
Moves are chosen from Jobs and Skills Australia's Data on Occupation Mobility, which follows income tax records between 2011-12 and 2020-21, together with entry requirements and skill overlap. A known move is one people were seen making in that data. Pay change compares median full-time pay for the two roles.
Who works as an early childhood teacher?
The typical early childhood teacher is 37 years old; 95% are women, 57% work full-time, and full-timers average 41 hours a week.
- 37
- Median age
- 95%
- Female share
- 57%
- Full-time
- +1h
- vs all-jobs avg
What's it like being an early childhood teacher?
Your day follows the children's rhythm, from the morning welcome through play, meals, rest and the long stretch to pick-up, with programming and documentation fitted into whatever time the room allows. You lead a group while coordinating with educators and assistants, so you are rarely alone, but the program and each child's records are your responsibility. Ratios tighten the pressure on days when someone is away or a child needs extra support, and family conversations can carry real emotional weight. If watching a child's understanding click over several weeks keeps you interested, this line of work rewards that patience; if you need quiet and a predictable desk, the noise and interruptions are hard to live with.
What people like
- Progress you can see. Children change fast at this age, and the sequence of experiences you planned is often the reason something finally clicks.
- You plan the day. Within the framework and the service's philosophy, you choose the experiences, the routines and how the space is set up.
- Company through the day. You share the room with educators and assistants, so there is someone to swap ideas with and someone to take over when a child needs your full attention.
- Knowing the families. Familiar parents come through the door each day, which means concerns are usually easier to raise by the time they matter.
What people find hard
- Documentation eats into time with children. Observations, learning stories and quality improvement plans have to be written somewhere, and services differ widely in how much paid time they give you for it.
- Being moved to cover a gap. When an educator calls in sick you may be asked to cover another room, which breaks the continuity you have built with your group.
- Noise and emotional load. A room of small children is loud all day, and some weeks include disclosures or family distress that follow you home.
Based on our synthesis of professional-body surveys and public accounts of the role, not first-person verified reviews.
Which industries employ early childhood teachers?
Education and Training employs the largest share of early childhood teachers, followed by Health Care and Social Assistance.
Top employing industries
- 1Education and Training
- 2Health Care and Social Assistance
Ranked by employment share; the source doesn't publish an exact percentage per industry.
| Bachelor degree | 60.4% | |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate | 21.4% | |
| Diploma / Advanced Diploma | 10.4% | |
| Certificate III/IV | 3.4% | |
| Year 12 or below | 2.6% |
Will AI replace early childhood teachers?
Moderate exposure. Not replaced, but changed. AI is taking on some tasks and the rest of the job shifts around them.
Early childhood teaching has moderate exposure overall, and it sits almost entirely in the paperwork. Learning story apps already turn a photo and a short voice note into a draft observation, and enrolment, ratio and compliance software handles admin that used to fill a morning. The room itself stays hands-on, so learn the platforms your service uses early and build the judgement that a draft observation cannot supply.
How a typical week splits
- Writing observations and learning stories20% of the week
An app can produce a draft from a photo and a few spoken words, so your work becomes checking accuracy and adding the context a template misses.
- Program planning and room documentation20% of the week
Planning tools can suggest experiences linked to the Early Years Learning Framework, but matching them to the children in your group is still yours to do.
- Supervising children through the daily routine35% of the week
Meals, rest, toileting and outdoor play need an adult physically present and paying attention, and nothing automated covers that.
- Talking with families and colleagues25% of the week
Raising a developmental concern with a parent, or agreeing on a room routine with a co-teacher, depends on reading how the other person is taking it.
How we work this out
We break each job into its main tasks, estimate the share of a typical week each one takes, and judge how far current AI and automation tools reach into it. The score out of 10 starts from the job's overall rating (low is 1 to 3, moderate 4 to 6, high 7 to 10) and the task split places it within that range. Source: Career Tips analysis of each role's main tasks.
Moves least exposed to AI
These career moves from early childhood teacher work are rated low for AI exposure:
- Primary School Teacher
High skill overlap (80%), little retraining to get there, and a low automation-risk profile.
- Special Education Teacher
High skill overlap (89%), little retraining to get there, and a low automation-risk profile.
- Middle School Teacher
High skill overlap (94%), little retraining to get there, and a low automation-risk profile.
- Childcare Centre Manager
Some skill overlap (17%), reskill to get there, and a low automation-risk profile.
Common questions about becoming an early childhood teacher
Straight answers to the questions people ask most.
How much do early childhood teachers earn?
$99,100 per year before tax is the median for early childhood teachers working full time. Your qualification level, whether you work in a kindergarten program or long day care, and whether your employer has an enterprise agreement all move that figure. Ask about paid programming time as well as the salary when you weigh up an offer.
How do you become an early childhood teacher?
You complete an ACECQA approved early childhood teaching degree, which usually takes about four years, then meet registration or screening requirements in your state. A graduate diploma is a shorter option if you hold a degree in another field. Professional experience placements are part of the qualification and are the best test of whether the work suits you.
Are early childhood teachers in demand?
Early childhood teachers are currently in shortage nationally, and employment is projected to grow 12.1% over the decade to 2035. Apply to services a little further from home as well as the closest ones, because a wider search gives you more centres to choose between.
Will AI replace early childhood teachers?
No, but it is changing the paperwork. Learning story apps such as Storypark and Xplor already draft observations from a photo and a voice note, and planning tools suggest experiences drawn from the framework. Spend your development time on the parts software cannot read: settling a distressed child, spotting a developmental concern, and explaining it to a parent.
What can early childhood teachers move into?
Primary school teaching is a close fit and typically brings $16,700 more, with your registration and child development knowledge carrying across. Special education teaching is another option, at $13,200 more. Some teachers eventually open or manage their own service, which means taking on staffing, ratios, compliance and fee setting, with income tied to how many places you fill.
What is the difference between an early childhood teacher and an early childhood educator?
A teacher holds a degree and counts towards the teacher-to-child ratio that the National Quality Framework requires, while an educator usually holds a diploma or certificate III. That difference is why the teacher plans the program and signs off on each child's assessment. If you are choosing what to study, the degree opens the leadership and school-sector roles that a diploma does not.
Related roles
- Primary School Teacher
- Special Education Teacher
- Middle School Teacher
- Secondary School Teacher
- Childcare Centre Manager
- Early Childhood Educator
Not sure this is you? Take the career quiz and get a ranked shortlist of roles that fit how you like to work.
Career advice
- Writing an expression of interestAn expression of interest is a short letter or email telling an employer you'd like to be considered for work with them.
- How to change careers, and which moves are realisticData on 1,573 career moves across 350 Australian occupations shows 63.3% need no more than a short course, though skill overlap alone won't tell you which ones. Six worked examples, and how to check your own move.
- Skills to put on your resume (with skills finder)A resume skills section built for the job you're applying for. Search your occupation to see the specialist skills, tools and general skills it calls for, with worked examples and what to write if you have no work history yet.