What can you do with a Early Childhood Education degree?

First, some facts. Of the Early Childhood Education graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 92 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 83%, Early Childhood Education graduates have a much higher likelihood (+16%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 83%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 43% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Early Childhood Education graduate.

See the details:

View a random Early Childhood Education graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2011 from John Carroll University with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Kindergarten Teacher
Imagine Harvard Avenue Community School
Sep 2012 - May 2015
As a Kindergarten Teacher, the job directly applies the knowledge and skills gained from a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, requiring a strong foundation in child development and educational practices.

Teacher
Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Aug 2015 - Present
Working as a Teacher in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District also utilizes the core knowledge and skills from a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, emphasizing curriculum development and effective teaching strategies for young learners.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Early Childhood Education degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When analyzing the career paths of individuals who graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education, it quickly becomes apparent that there is a strong correlation between their educational background and their job selection. The majority of professionals in this field gravitated toward roles directly related to teaching or educational support, such as Kindergarten Teachers, Preschool Teachers, and various positions involving substitute teaching or special education. It seems these individuals are primarily committed to roles that allow them to actively implement the pedagogical skills and knowledge they acquired during their studies, indicating a clear relevance between their degree and their career choices.

However, not all positions held by these graduates align closely with the core competencies of Early Childhood Education. In many cases, graduates took on roles like Assistant Coaches, Customer Service Representatives, or even Sales Associates. While some of these positions may utilize transferable skills, such as interpersonal communication and teamwork, they often do not require the specialized education training needed to effectively teach or manage young children's developmental needs. In particular, roles that fall into the business or administrative domain, such as financial management or technology-related positions, are generally far removed from the principles of child development central to Early Childhood Education. This discrepancy highlights an interesting dichotomy in career applicability; while many graduates find fulfilling employment in education-related roles, a significant number also branch out into fields that, although they use some generic skills from their education, do not directly utilize their specialized knowledge.

In conclusion, while the most common jobs held by individuals with a degree in Early Childhood Education tend to be closely related to their field of study, a noticeable fraction has chosen paths that diverge from direct application of their educational expertise. This begs the question of whether their degree adequately prepared them for a variety of career options, or if other factors, like personal interest or job market availability, influenced their choices. Regardless, the overarching trend in this analysis suggests that a degree in Early Childhood Education indeed paves the way for a wide array of relevant roles primarily centered around nurturing and educating young minds.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Early Childhood Education graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Early Childhood Education graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When looking at the career trajectories of graduates with a degree in Early Childhood Education, it's clear that there are quite a few different paths they can take. From initial positions to where they end up several years down the road, we see a mixture of outcomes that reflects the diverse possibilities in this field. Many graduates land their first jobs as student teachers or assistants, which is pretty common in education. This helps them build essential classroom experience right after they finish their degrees. For example, many graduates initially work as teaching assistants or substitutes, which can provide a foot in the door and valuable experience even if their first job may not be the dream position.

As we look five to ten years down the line, there’s a notable trend where some maintain their roles in education, like becoming kindergarten or preschool teachers, while others shift towards administrative positions or take on responsibilities like coaching or mentoring. For instance, several individuals have moved into specialized roles, such as instructional coaches or education directors, which shows progression in their careers. However, a significant number of graduates have veered away from traditional education roles altogether, opting for jobs in completely unrelated fields like customer service or business roles. This suggests that while many continue to thrive in Early Childhood Education-related careers, others may struggle to find their niche within the field or may be lured by opportunities outside of it.

Overall, it's a mixed bag. Some Early Childhood Education grads are making impactful contributions to schools and shaping young minds, while others have taken divergent paths, leading them away from direct education roles. If you’re considering this degree, it’s important to be aware of these possibilities and also be proactive about finding the right fit for you in the job market after graduation.

How hard is a Early Childhood Education degree?

People often think a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education is an easy ride, and while it can be more straightforward than some other degrees, that doesn't mean it's a walk in the park. You will definitely have to dive deep into subjects like child development, teaching methods, and psychology, all while juggling practical experiences in classrooms. The workload can vary a lot; some classes might feel like a breeze, while others can really push you to think critically and engage deeply with the material. So, I'd say it’s sort of in the middle—challenging enough to keep you on your toes, but also manageable if you have a passion for working with kids and stay organized! You'll definitely learn a lot, but if you're interested in it, the effort can be pretty rewarding.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education.

Do Early Childhood Education graduates tend to make good money?

When looking through the job histories of these Early Childhood Education grads, it seems like their earnings might vary pretty widely. For instance, some graduates like the ones from Ball State University and Brooklyn College have had pretty straightforward educational careers that mostly focus on teaching, which typically comes with lower pay, especially in the early stages. It’s nice that they're growing their experience, but teaching salaries tend to be modest, which means "decent money" is probably subjective and not too high in their cases.

On the other hand, graduates from places like Vanguard show that they moved into more lucrative sectors like finance, suggesting those roles offer better pay than a traditional teaching job. Also, graduates who advance into administrative or director roles in educational settings might start to see more substantial paychecks, but overall, it looks like many are still in the lower salary brackets, especially when starting out. So, while some are likely beginning to make better money as they progress, a lot of them are likely still working their way up and managing on a tighter budget for now!

What buzzwords do Early Childhood Education graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Early Childhood Education?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education (ordered by the average relevance score of their Early Childhood Education graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count