by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Montessori Teacher Education involves the study of Montessori Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Students At Various Grade Levels According To The Pedagogical Principles And Methods Developed By Maria Montessori And Her Followers. Continue reading for the essential details every montessori teacher education major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering montessori teacher education programs.
Nationwide, montessori teacher education draws strong interest, with 264 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Montessori Teacher Education Schools ranking analyzes these 14 schools to determine the best overall colleges for montessori teacher education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of montessori teacher education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Montessori Teacher Education develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations montessori teacher education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a montessori teacher education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a montessori teacher education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several montessori teacher education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 18 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 19 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 227 |
People currently working in careers related to montessori teacher education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.4% |
| Master’s degree | 9.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 8.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in montessori teacher education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in montessori teacher education opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to montessori teacher education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to montessori teacher education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,457,958 | 2.6% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | 1,154,676 | 1.9% |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,058,186 | 6.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 84,106 | 4.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of montessori teacher education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,857 |
| 4 years | $43,846 |
| 5 years | $48,879 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for montessori teacher education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers montessori teacher education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,352 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $83,682 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,366 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,776 |
With 14 different montessori teacher education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased montessori teacher education school rankings to help you.
Those considering montessori teacher education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
