Pre-K Teacher Jobs in North Carolina
Pre-K Teacher jobs in North Carolina are in strong and steady demand, concentrated in public school systems, Head Start programs, and private child care centers, with openings at every level from classroom assistant through lead teacher and site director. The heaviest hiring activity is in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro, where employers such as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Wake County Public School System, and Bright Horizons maintain consistent pre-k rosters. The most sought-after specialties in North Carolina are exceptional children's education, bilingual early childhood instruction, and NC Pre-K program delivery. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Pre-K Teacher JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 76+ Pre-K Teacher jobs
NC Pre-K Lead Teacher General Description:
- The ideal applicant will have at least one year experience working in an NC Pre-K classroom as a lead teacher, hold a current North Carolina Birth through Kindergarten License, possess strong classroom management skills, and a genuine passion for helping children grow and succeed.
- Classrooms sometimes include children with diverse needs, including those with special needs and challenging behaviors, so patience, flexibility, and creativity are essential.
- This position will require a candidate that is physically active and engaged, able to get on the floor for group times and during free play as well as join in with play outdoors and gardening with the children.
- The applicant should have a strong belief that even the youngest children have the ability to learn new things daily including but not limited to, self-help skills, kindness, self-regulation, and age-appropriate curriculum.
- The applicant will need to be capable of creating and implementing creative curriculum preschool lesson plans, facilitating group times, supervising and actively participating during play time both indoors and out, discussing children's progress or struggles with other teaching staff in the classroom, director, and/or conducting parent conferences, assisting children during meal times, monitoring and responding to children's behavior, classroom housekeeping, tracking child progress in Teaching Strategies, working as a team, daily recordkeeping for attendance, meal counts, and supply requests etc.
The NC Pre-K Teacher is responsible for:
- Create a warm, welcoming, safe and structured classroom environment.
- Daily care, active participation and supervision of the children for both indoor and outdoor activities.
- Establishing positive and respectful relationships with children, families, and other staff members.
- Planning and implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans based on formal and informal assessments using the creative curriculum.
- Entering data in Teaching Strategies.
- Following a schedule that supports individual and group activities.
- Frequent communication with parents about child’s progress which includes beginning of year visits and periodic teacher conferences.
- Implement engaging activities that promote social, emotional, and cognitive growth.
- Support children with challenging behaviors and special needs using positive guidance and individualized strategies.
- Maintain clear routines and expectations to promote positive behavior.
- Ensure safety, cleanliness, and organization of the classroom.
- Encouraging parent participation and providing classroom activities for family engagement.
- Maintaining daily/monthly attendance records.
- Assist with daily housekeeping tasks.
- Maintaining professionalism and confidentiality.
- Working closely with management to ensure all program needs are met.
- Attending required trainings and staff meetings. Qualifications, Education &
Experience and Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or an ECE related field required.
- North Carolina (NC) Birth-through-Kindergarten license or a Preschool Add-on license required.
- Minimum of 1-year experience as a NC Pre-K Lead Teacher.
- Working knowledge of Creative Curriculum 5th Edition, Teaching Strategies GOLD, and NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development.
- Infant, child, and adult CPR & First Aid.
- Negative TB test required.
- NC Criminal Records Qualification Letter from NC Division of Health and Human Services.
- Completed staff health assessment required.
Required Skills & Abilities:
- Knowledge of Creative Curriculum.
- Knowledge of Brigance Early Childhood Screen III.
- Excellent skills in written and oral communication.
- Organization skills
See All 76 Pre-K Teacher Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Pre-K Teacher JobsPre-K Teacher Jobs by City in North Carolina
Where North Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Pre-K Teacher Job Market in North Carolina
A snapshot from current North Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What North Carolina Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in Pre-K teacher jobs across North Carolina.
- Active North Carolina Standard Professional 1 or BK licensure issued by the NCDPI
- Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or closely related field required
- Demonstrated knowledge of NC Pre-K program standards and developmentally appropriate practice
- Current pediatric CPR and first aid certification for child care settings
- Experience creating lesson plans aligned with the North Carolina Early Learning Network standards
- Clear background check meeting North Carolina Division of Child Development requirements
Pre-K Teacher Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a pre-k teacher in North Carolina?
To teach in a public NC Pre-K classroom you need a North Carolina teaching license in Birth-Kindergarten or a related lateral-entry license, issued by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. That requires a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a closely related field, completion of an approved educator preparation program, and passing the required Praxis assessments. Private and Head Start programs may accept a Child Development Associate credential alongside relevant coursework instead of full licensure.
How much do Pre-K teachers make in North Carolina?
Pre-K teachers in North Carolina earn a median of about $35,710 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $28,700 for the lowest 10% to over $47,530 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire pre-k teachers in North Carolina?
Employers hiring pre-k teachers in North Carolina right now include Childcare Network, Wake County Public School System, and Thales Academy, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. North Carolina's publicly funded NC Pre-K initiative also drives consistent openings across county school systems and community-based partner sites throughout the state.
Which North Carolina cities have the most pre-k teacher jobs?
Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte account for the most pre-k teacher openings in North Carolina. Charlotte and Raleigh lead because their large, fast-growing school systems and dense concentrations of Bright Horizons, KinderCare, and Head Start centers create high ongoing demand, while Greensboro anchors the Piedmont Triad's public school and Head Start activity.
Are there remote pre-k teacher jobs in North Carolina?
Yes, but they're rare. Pre-k teaching is fundamentally a hands-on, in-classroom role, so fully remote positions are uncommon. About 0% of pre-k teacher openings tied to North Carolina are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to be instructional coaching, curriculum development, or early childhood specialist roles rather than direct classroom teaching positions.
How can I get hired as a pre-k teacher in North Carolina with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is to start as a teacher assistant or classroom aide in a North Carolina public school or Head Start program, which requires a high school diploma and passing the Paraprofessional Assessment rather than full licensure. Wake County Public School System and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools regularly hire assistants who can work toward their BK license through lateral-entry or tuition-assistance programs. Earning a Child Development Associate credential first gives candidates a measurable edge when competing for these roles.
Where can I find and apply to pre-k teacher jobs in North Carolina?
You can find and apply to pre-k teacher jobs in North Carolina on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your credentials and preferred location, and apply directly to each employer without creating an account or signing up.
See All 76 Pre-K Teacher Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Pre-K Teacher Jobs