Early Educator Salary Data and the MA Career Ladder A Joint Initiative of BTWIC and EEC Fiscal Committee Board of Early Education and Care February 4, 2013

Introduction BTWIC partnered with the EEC in 2010 to create the career ladder and complete some preliminary analysis of salary data from the PQ Registry, as the original intent was to connect wage increases to the career ladder The team presented to the Fiscal Committee in December Feedback was incorporated into this updated presentation and includes:  Comparison of salaries in private versus non-profit centers  Comparison to salaries of comparable sectors, not to the general Massachusetts workforce The goal of today’s presentation is to summarize BTWIC’s subsequent analysis of PQ Registry data, not to suggest solutions on how to improve early educator compensation 2

Setting the Stage: QRIS Standards - CB 3 QRIS Level 3, Center-Based Programs QRIS Level 4, Center-Based Programs

QRIS Tool - CB 4 Program Administration Scale (PAS) – Personnel Cost and Allocation InadequateMinimalGoodExcellent Staff did not receive a salary increase within the last two years Salary increase within the last two years Salary increase in each of the last three years The center has a compensation plan that provides for merit increases in addition to annual salary increases A salary scale is based on role without regard to education and specialized training Salary scale is differentiated by role, education, and specialized training Salary scale is differentiated by role, education, specialized training, and years of relevant experience Staff with comparable education, specialized training, and experience are paid comparable wages for comparable work

QRIS Standards - FCC 5 QRIS Level 3, Family Child Care QRIS Level 4, Family Child Care

QRIS Tool - FCC 6 Business Administration Scale (BAS) – Income and Benefits InadequateMinimalGoodExcellent The provider has not increased a fee charged to parents within the last three years The provider has increased a fee charged to parents within the last three years The provider has increased a fee charged to parents within the last two years The provider has increased a fee charged to parents in each of the last three years

Data Analysis Completed by BTWIC EEC’s Professional Qualifications (PQ) Registry (Aug. 2012) Median Salary Median Salary by Education Level Median Salary of educators in large private chains Comparison to wages in similar sectors (Bureau of Labor Statistics) 7

Considerations Many PQ Registry records are still incomplete. BTWIC started with: 60,886 records as of August 24, ,395 individuals working less than 30 hours a week 42,491 individuals working 30 hours a week or more -23,592 individuals with blank salary data 18,899 individuals with salary data working more than 30 hrs/week -5,332 salaries less than $10,000 and greater than $100,000 -2,016 in “other,” residential and placement,” “school-age care” -1,751 Administrators, Directors, Consultants, etc. = 9,800 records for analysis (16% of all records) Focus was on teaching staff in center-based settings and family child care providers (not out-of-school time) Salary is only one component of overall compensation and it is a direct reflection of what centers and programs are able to pay 8

PQ Registry Salary Data: MA Early Educators 9 Center-Based Median Annual Salary Center-Based number of records analyzed Private Chains (Center-Based) Median Annual Salary Private Chains (Center-Based) number of records analyzed $22,501 - $25,0007,041$22,501 - $25,0001,020 Family Child Care Median Annual Salary Family Child Care number of records analyzed $25,001 - $27,5002,091 Source: PQ Registry as of August Records analyzed reflect teaching staff only; excludes Directors and Administrators.

10 Center-Based Median Annual Salary + 3%Family Child Care Median Annual Salary + 3% $23,176 - $25,750$25,751 - $28,325 MA Economic Independence Level for a single individual/ single parent of one preschool-age child Average salary of comparable fields in MA (Nursing Aides, Human Service Assistants; see slide 13) $27,084 $49,037 $27,978 With a 3% increase: PQ Registry Salary Data: MA Early Educators Sources: BTWIC calculations; Crittenton Women’s Union Economic Independence Calculator 2010; Bureau of Labor Statistics (See slide 13 for comparison industries)

Highest Level of Education of Center-Based Early Educators with Salary Data in the PQ Registry 11 Source: Professional Qualifications Registry as of August n = 6,955.

12 By Education Level Center-Based Median Annual Salary Center- Based number of records Family Child Care Median Annual Salary Family Child Care number of records Not high school graduate $20,001 - $22,50073$22,501 - $25, High school graduate/GED $17,501 - $20,0001,091$25,001 - $27, Child Development Associate (CDA) $22,501 - $25,000173$27,501 - $30, Some college (no degree) $20,001 - $22,5001,967$22,501 - $25, Associate's degree $22,501 - $25,0001,266$27,501 - $30, Bachelor's degree $22,501 - $25,0001,924$25,001 - $27, Graduate or professional degree $27,501 - $30,000461$27,501 - $30, Totals6,9552,072 Salary Data by Level of Education Source: Professional Qualifications Registry as of August 2012.

Comparison with other Sectors 13 Occupational CategoryAnnual Median Salary Approximate Employment Kindergarten Teachers$57,630*3,780 Child, Family, and School Social Workers$43,5349,730 Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$34,2161,970 Educators in Public Preschools$30,001 - $32,5003,083 Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants$28,47540,280 Social and Human Service Assistants$28,39216,510 Teacher Assistants$28,360*34,100 Home Health Aides$26,68619,010 Family Child Care Providers$25,001 - $27,5007,376 Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$25,64614,640 Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs$25,3347,310 Early Educators in Center-Based Programs$22,501 - $25,00033,383 Retail Salespersons$22,214108,670 Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2011 Massachusetts Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. Department of Early Education and Care Professional Qualifications Registry, as of August 2012, for the three categories shaded in green. Note: salary data reflects teaching staff in the three categories and excludes Administrators, Directors, Education Coordinators, etc. *mean salaries, not median. Average salary $27,978

Comparison with MA Child Care Cost Model 14 TitleEstimated Salary Percentage of BLS Comparison Salary BLS Comparison Salary Lead Teacher$31,55995%Preschool Teacher Teacher$24,89095%Child Care Worker Teacher Assistant$18,304110%(Minimum Wage) Average of all teaching staff:$24,918 Level 3, Center-Based Programs Level 4, Center-Based Programs TitleEstimated Salary Percentage of BLS Comparison Salary BLS Comparison Salary Lead Teacher$36,542110%Preschool Teacher Teacher$28,820110%Child Care Worker Teacher Assistant$18,304110%(Minimum Wage) Average of all teaching staff:$27,889

Recommendations The EEC should Continue to keep early educator compensation as a top priority Explore strategies for improving the completeness and accuracy of PQ Registry data Summarize salary data from the Professional Qualifications Registry every year and release reports to the field 15

Thank you