Early Childhood Educators
Data on the childcare workforce and students' access to early learning opportunities

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Early Childhood Education in the South: Click the options below to explore the data.

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Regional Highlights

In the South, 38% of 4-year-olds and 4% of 3-year-olds were enrolled in state-funded preschool in 2023, rates that are relatively similar to national trends.

Zooming out, of the more than 8.8 million children under 6 living in the region, 91% of their families paid for their early education out-of-pocket, including 52% of those living in poverty. Although annual tuition in the South averaged less than national averages — $1,279 less for 4-year-olds and $2,248 less for infants — child care often still comes at a significant financial hardship for families, with 10.3% of families who pay out-of-pocket in the South reporting quitting a job, not taking a job or needing to greatly change their job due to challenges with child care. 

In the South, 46% of children under age 6 live in a child care desert, where there is an insufficient supply of licensed child care available. Nationally, this figure rises to 51%.

The average hourly wage for Head Start and Early Head Start teachers in the South was $19.50 in 2023 — equivalent to an annual wage of $39,425. This is nearly $20,000 less per year than the average compensation for K-12 teachers in the region, which already lags behind the national average by 15%.

A preschool teacher and child play with colorful blocks in a room. Next to them, text states: "In the SREB region in 2023: 8,826,739 children under age 6. 91% (8,034,112) families paid for early education out-of-pocket."

Text reads, "Nationally and in the South, approximately 1 out of every 3 four-year-olds attends a state-funded preschool program." Silhouettes of three children, one highlighted in green. Map of the SREB region with percentages of 4-year-olds in state-funded preschool in each state. Text notes a 38% average enrollment for 4-year-olds across the region and a 35% average nationally. At the bottom, text reads, "However, only 4% of 3-year-olds in the South (and 7% nationwide) attend a state-funded preschool program."

Infographic showing enrollment of children under age 6 in state-funded preschool in 2023: SREB Regional Average at 48%, National Average at 65%.

Infographic titled "The Early Learning Landscape 2023" with data on children under age 6 in both the United States and the SREB region, detailing preschool education costs, preschool enrollment, and poverty.

Map showing average annual preschool tuition for center-based care in the SREB region in 2023. Prices vary, with the highest costs being for infants in Maryland, Delaware, and North Carolina.

An infographic on child care deserts for children under 6 shows: 51% nationally and 46% in the South. A preschool-age child in a graduation gown appears in the corner. A map of the SREB region shows the percentage of children under 6 who live in a child care desert in each state.

Graphic titled 'Early Childhood Educator Compensation in the South 2023'. Features two figures: $19.50 hourly wage (equivalent to $39,425.50 annually) for Head Start and Early Head Start teachers, compared to an annual salary of $59,145 for K-12 teachers. A background image shows children and a teacher in a classroom.

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Data by State

 

 

 

 

 

State Spotlights

Spotlight on North Carolina: North Carolina publishes data to better understand the state of the early childhood workforce.Chart titled "Spotlight on North Carolina" showing education levels of early childhood educators in 2019 and 2023 by role. Roles include administrators, teachers, assistant teachers, and family child care providers, who offer licensed child care in their home.Infographic titled 'Spotlight on North Carolina: Turnover among early childhood educators.' It shows increasing separation rates from 2019 to 2023 for various roles, including full-time teachers, assistant teachers, and more.
Spotlight on New Mexico: New Mexico is implementing universal access to child care, paired with targeted investments to expand the supply of child care and strengthen the early childhood workforce.Infographic titled "Spotlight on New Mexico" showcasing efforts to expand child care. Features elements to support 12,000 children: 55 new centers (6,600 children), 120 licensed homes (1,400 children), 1,000 registered homes (4,000 children). Highlights $12,084 average annual benefit per child for families and centers.Infographic titled 'Spotlight on New Mexico' highlighting universal child care access. It notes sources of funding for the initiative and key purposes, such as improving early childhood education outcomes and supporting parents' ability to work.

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