Early Childhood Education Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Early childhood education roles attract H-1B visa and E-3 visa sponsorship from school districts, Head Start programs, and private childcare centers. A bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field is typically required, and state teaching licensure strengthens your application significantly. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
Find Early Childhood Education JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 372+ Early Childhood Education jobs
See all 372+ Early Childhood Education Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Early Childhood Education roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
PreSchool Pre-k Teacher
The Goddard School of Colorado Springs
Why You’ll Love Teaching With Us:
We are an independently owned and operated school with on-site leadership dedicated to supporting our teaching staff every day. If you are looking for a collaborative classroom environment, manageable ratios, dedicated off-floor planning time, and an administration that values your well-being, we would love to meet you!
Compensation & Full Benefits Package:
- Pay Rate: $19.00 – $21.00/hour (commensurate with credentials and experience)
- Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, and Vision plans available
- Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous accrued PTO plus paid major holidays and winter break
- Childcare Discount: Substantial tuition discount for employee children
- Classroom & Planning Support: Daily paid off-floor planning time and dedicated support floaters
- Professional Growth: 100% paid CDA credential sponsorship, ongoing state-approved training, and clear advancement paths
- Supplies & Resources: Fully funded classroom budgets—no spending your own money on curriculum materials
Key Responsibilities:
- Design and implement engaging, play-based lesson plans aligned with Goddard’s STEAM-focused curriculum.
- Lead daily classroom activities and maintain a safe, clean, and nurturing learning environment.
- Assess child development and maintain positive, transparent communication with parents via our family app.
- Mentor assistant teachers and collaborate with fellow educators on curriculum goals.
- Ensure compliance with all Colorado state licensing standards and Goddard Quality Assurance protocols.
Qualifications
- ECT Qualified: Must meet Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) Early Childhood Teacher qualifications (e.g., ECE Associate/Bachelor’s degree, CDA, or qualifying college coursework + verified hours).
- 1+ years of experience leading a licensed childcare or preschool classroom preferred.
- Strong verbal communication skills and a passion for early learning.
- Ability to pass required state and federal background checks.
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday (Consistent full-time schedule, no weekend hours)
The Goddard School is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $19.00 - $21.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
INTRODUCTION
PreSchool Pre-k Teacher
The Goddard School of Colorado Springs
Why You’ll Love Teaching With Us:
We are an independently owned and operated school with on-site leadership dedicated to supporting our teaching staff every day. If you are looking for a collaborative classroom environment, manageable ratios, dedicated off-floor planning time, and an administration that values your well-being, we would love to meet you!
Compensation & Full Benefits Package:
- Pay Rate: $19.00 – $21.00/hour (commensurate with credentials and experience)
- Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, and Vision plans available
- Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous accrued PTO plus paid major holidays and winter break
- Childcare Discount: Substantial tuition discount for employee children
- Classroom & Planning Support: Daily paid off-floor planning time and dedicated support floaters
- Professional Growth: 100% paid CDA credential sponsorship, ongoing state-approved training, and clear advancement paths
- Supplies & Resources: Fully funded classroom budgets—no spending your own money on curriculum materials
Key Responsibilities:
- Design and implement engaging, play-based lesson plans aligned with Goddard’s STEAM-focused curriculum.
- Lead daily classroom activities and maintain a safe, clean, and nurturing learning environment.
- Assess child development and maintain positive, transparent communication with parents via our family app.
- Mentor assistant teachers and collaborate with fellow educators on curriculum goals.
- Ensure compliance with all Colorado state licensing standards and Goddard Quality Assurance protocols.
Qualifications
- ECT Qualified: Must meet Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) Early Childhood Teacher qualifications (e.g., ECE Associate/Bachelor’s degree, CDA, or qualifying college coursework + verified hours).
- 1+ years of experience leading a licensed childcare or preschool classroom preferred.
- Strong verbal communication skills and a passion for early learning.
- Ability to pass required state and federal background checks.
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday (Consistent full-time schedule, no weekend hours)
The Goddard School is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $19.00 - $21.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
See all 372+ Early Childhood Education Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Early Childhood Education roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Early Childhood Education Jobs
Target school districts and Head Start programs first
Public school districts and federally funded Head Start programs have established HR processes for sponsoring work visas. They hire at predictable times each year and are more familiar with H-1B petition requirements than smaller private childcare operators.
Get your state teaching license before applying
Many ECE sponsorship roles, especially in public pre-K and school districts, require a state teaching license. Securing yours before applying removes a common hiring barrier and signals to employers that you can start without extra onboarding steps.
Frame your degree around specialty occupation requirements
USCIS requires a specific connection between your degree and your job duties for H-1B eligibility. A degree in early childhood education, child development, or elementary education maps most cleanly. General education degrees may require additional documentation.
Australian applicants should prioritize E-3 sponsoring employers
If you hold Australian citizenship, the E-3 visa avoids the H-1B lottery entirely. Look for school districts and childcare networks that have sponsored international staff before, as they will understand the E-3 process and face fewer administrative hurdles.
Apply well before the school year hiring cycle closes
Most ECE roles are filled between February and May for the following school year. Sponsorship adds processing time to your start date. Applying early gives employers enough lead time to file an LCA and H-1B petition before your intended start.
Highlight curriculum certifications alongside your degree
Credentials like Montessori certification, RIE training, or CLASS observer certification differentiate you from other candidates. They also help establish the specialized nature of your role, which supports the specialty occupation argument in your visa petition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does early childhood education qualify as a specialty occupation for the H-1B visa?
It can, but it requires careful documentation. USCIS expects the role to normally require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Public pre-K teachers and curriculum specialists at accredited programs typically qualify. Roles at informal daycare centers with no degree requirement are harder to support. Your employer's attorney will need to show that a specific degree is standard for the position, not just preferred.
What degree do I need to get visa sponsorship in early childhood education?
A bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, or elementary education is the strongest foundation for H-1B visa or E-3 visa sponsorship. Some employers accept degrees in psychology or special education if your coursework is relevant. A general liberal arts degree is unlikely to satisfy the specialty occupation requirement without additional credentials, such as a state teaching license or subject-specific certification.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor early childhood education workers?
Public school districts running pre-K programs, Head Start grantees, and large private childcare networks with dedicated HR teams are the most consistent sponsors. Smaller independent childcare centers rarely have the legal infrastructure to navigate H-1B petitions. Browsing verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate is the most efficient way to identify which ECE employers are actively hiring international candidates.
Are there H-1B cap exemptions that apply to early childhood education roles?
Roles at nonprofit organizations affiliated with universities, or at government-funded research institutions, may qualify for cap-exempt H-1B status, bypassing the annual lottery. Most public school districts are subject to the H-1B cap but can file during the standard April window. If your role is at a university-affiliated early childhood research center or a government agency, ask your employer to confirm whether cap-exempt filing applies.
Can I work in early childhood education on an OPT or STEM OPT extension while I look for a sponsored role?
Yes, if you graduated from a U.S. university with a degree in early childhood education or child development, you're eligible for 12 months of OPT. Early childhood education is not typically classified as a STEM field, so a 24-month STEM extension is unlikely unless your degree program falls under an approved STEM Classification of Instructional Programs code. Use your OPT period to gain classroom experience and secure an H-1B sponsoring employer before your authorization expires.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Early Childhood Education jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.