In January 2024, salaries for preschool teachers were increased. With the most recent raises, the average teacher salary ranges between 17,500 TL and 34,431 TL.
How to Become a Kindergarten Teacher?
To become a kindergarten teacher, you must complete a four-year undergraduate program. Graduates of Home Economics, Child Development, Early Childhood Education, or Kindergarten Teaching degree programs are eligible to work as kindergarten teachers.
Graduates from Early Childhood Education and Kindergarten Teaching departments within faculties of education can directly take the Public Personnel Selection Examination (KPSS) and apply for positions within the Ministry of National Education (MEB). Graduates of Home Economics and Child Development departments must complete teacher training (pedagogical formation) to be appointed as civil servants in MEB institutions.
If Home Economics and Child Development graduates wish to work in kindergarten without pedagogical formation, they can find opportunities in the private sector. In private daycares and kindergartens, they can often start after completing a one-year internship.
How to Become an Assistant Kindergarten Teacher?
To work as an assistant kindergarten teacher, you should graduate from a two-year associate program in Child Development. Those who complete this program can work in MEB-run kindergartens and daycares or in private schools and institutions.
Requirements to Become a Kindergarten Teacher
The requirements to become a kindergarten teacher are as follows:
- Graduate from one of the four-year programs: Home Economics, Child Development, Early Childhood Education, or Kindergarten Teaching.
- Obtain pedagogical formation if your relevant degree was completed outside a faculty of education (required for MEB appointments).
- Pedagogical formation is not mandatory for employment in private daycares and kindergartens.
- Achieve a satisfactory score on the KPSS (for MEB positions).
What Qualities Should a Kindergarten Teacher Have?
A good kindergarten teacher should possess the following qualities:
- Strong communication skills with young children.
- Understanding of child psychology.
- Knowledge of children’s developmental stages.
- Familiarity with first aid techniques.
- Awareness of age-appropriate play and activities.
- Good organizational skills.
What Does a Kindergarten Teacher Do?
Kindergarten teachers support the healthy psychological, physiological, and psychomotor development of children aged 3–6. They design and implement activities that foster communication skills, cognitive development, creativity, and social interaction within the school setting.
Which Universities Offer Kindergarten and Early Childhood Education Programs?
Most universities in Turkey and Northern Cyprus offer programs in Kindergarten and Early Childhood Education.
Notable universities where these programs are offered include:
- Sivas Cumhuriyet University
- Yıldız Technical University
- Başkent University
- Trakya University
- Ondokuz Mayıs University
- Akdeniz University
- Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University
- Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University
- Ankara University
- Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University
- İnönü University
- Kastamonu University
- Fırat University
- İstanbul Aydın University
- Pamukkale University
- Kocaeli University
- Giresun University
- Aydın Adnan Menderes University
- Anadolu University
- Dicle University
- Afyon Kocatepe University
- Atatürk University
- Van Yüzüncü Yıl University
- Sakarya University
- Balıkesir University
- Middle East Technical University
- Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University
- Kırıkkale University
- Bursa Uludağ University
- Eskişehir Osmangazi University
- Ege University
- Uşak University
- Kütahya Dumlupınar University
- Mersin University
- Bogazici University
- Gazi University
- Çukurova University
- Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University
- Hacettepe University
How Much is a Preschool Teacher’s Salary in 2024?
Following the January 2024 increases, preschool teacher salaries are set and vary by sector. Salaries range from 17,500 TL to 34,431 TL. Teachers employed by the MEB generally earn more than those in the private sector.
| Public sector kindergarten teacher salary | ₺34,431.00 |
| Private sector preschool teacher salary | Between ₺17,500 and ₺18,000 |
| Paid hourly/temporary preschool teacher salary | Between ₺10,000 and ₺12,000 |
How Much Do Preschool Teachers Earn in the Public Sector?
Salaries for preschool teachers working within the MEB start at 34,431 TL. With additional compensation for extra lessons and allowances, monthly income typically ranges from approximately 36,000 TL to 42,000 TL. Salaries may increase with higher grade and step levels.
How Much Do Civil Servant Preschool Teachers Earn?
A civil servant (permanent) preschool teacher’s salary differs only slightly from that of a contracted teacher. The base salary for a permanent preschool teacher is set at 34,431 TL. With extra lesson fees, family allowances, and other supports, total monthly earnings can reach up to around 42,000 TL.
How Much Do Preschool Teachers Earn in the Private Sector?
In the private sector, preschool teacher salaries typically start between 17,500 TL and 19,000 TL. The highest private-sector kindergarten salaries range from about 22,000 TL to 28,000 TL. Professional experience and regional pay standards are the primary factors that influence salary levels.
Which Institutions Hire Kindergarten Teachers?
The MEB recruits kindergarten teachers through annual KPSS exams; quotas vary year to year. The private sector has a constant demand for qualified preschool teachers. As more women participate in the workforce, parents increasingly rely on daycare and kindergarten services, driving demand. Private kindergartens operate not only in major city centers but also in many districts. Large institutional schools and networks also regularly hire kindergarten teachers, making this profession consistently sought after in the private sector.
What Are the Responsibilities of a Kindergarten and Daycare Teacher?
Kindergarten teacher responsibilities are defined by the MEB. The curriculum details the skills and knowledge teachers are expected to develop in children.
Typical duties of a kindergarten teacher include:
- Deliver activities that stimulate cognitive development using stories, games, songs, and playful competition suitable for young children.
- Help children develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination through activities such as arts and crafts or simple origami.
- Listen to children attentively, build trust, and support their self-confidence.
- Provide activities that promote both cognitive and physical development, often through play-based lessons.
- Teach practical daily living skills such as toileting, eating, and dressing.
- Support verbal and language development through books, stories, songs, and guided conversations.
- Keep regular reports on each child’s progress and share these with parents to keep them informed.
- Teach basic hygiene habits like handwashing and toothbrushing and encourage consistent practice.
- Promote healthy eating habits and guide children away from highly processed snacks.
- Introduce early literacy and pre-writing skills to prepare children for first grade.
- Monitor all students throughout the day, note behaviors, correct inappropriate actions, and demonstrate appropriate alternatives.
- Supervise and coordinate with childcare assistants where applicable.
Courses in Kindergarten Teaching Programs
Common courses in kindergarten teaching programs include:
- Teaching methods
- Communication techniques and human psychology
- Planned and organized lesson preparation
- Comprehensive child development and child psychology
- Child-centered play and games
- Approaches for working with children with disabilities
- Child health and first aid techniques
Which High School Program is Best for Aspiring Kindergarten Teachers?
The specific high school department is not decisive for becoming a kindergarten teacher. After graduating from any high school, you can enroll in university programs such as Child Development, Home Economics, Kindergarten Teaching, or Early Childhood Education and later pass KPSS to become a teacher. Because kindergarten teaching programs are typically in the humanities/social sciences track, attending a high school focused on verbal subjects can be beneficial but is not mandatory.
Can a High School Graduate Become a Kindergarten Teacher?
A high school graduate alone cannot become a kindergarten teacher. To qualify, a high school graduate must continue education at university, graduate from one of the relevant bachelor’s degree programs, and achieve a sufficient KPSS score. Without meeting these requirements, one cannot be appointed as a kindergarten teacher.