Starting salaries for early childhood teacher range from $36,000 to $47,000 depending on qualifications. Experienced early childhood teachers in senior positions can earn between $60,000 and $85,000.
Study options in this filed include a 3 year undergraduate degree called Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education), a one year Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) and a 3 year Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
This field is in high demand in New Zealand. However, it requires registration and also good IELTS band scores. If your not registered you can still get work as a reliever.
Early Childhood Teacher Salaries / Wages in 2018 – 2019
| Position |
Salary / Wage $ |
Location |
| Early Childhood Teacher – Babies or Preschool |
49,000 – 53,000 |
Auckland |
| Qualified Early Childhood Teacher |
28 per hour |
Auckland |
| Early Childhood Centre Manager |
50,000 |
Auckland |
| Montessori Focused Early Childhood Teacher |
24 – 26 per hour |
Auckland |
| Early Childhood Teacher |
48,000 – 52,000 |
Auckland |
| Experienced Under 2’s Early Childhood Teacher |
27 per hour |
Auckland |
| Qualified Early Childhood Teacher |
24 – 27 per hour |
Manawatu, Palmerston North |
| Part-time Early Childhood Teacher |
25 – 30 per hour |
Wellington |
| Early Childhood Teacher |
24 – 28 per hour |
Christchurch |
| Head Teacher – Kindergarten |
75,000 – 80,000 |
Canterbury |
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For comparison, the average ordinary time hourly wage in New Zealand for the quarter ending 31 December 2018 was $31.63 according to Statistics New Zealand. This would give an annual average salary of around $62,500, working standard full-time hours (38 hours).