Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $59,300 | $28.51 |
| Mean (average) | $64,800 | $31.15 |
| 90th percentile | $98,240 | $47.23 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,780 | $27,290 | $77,530 | 940 | 0.94 |
| Alaska | $75,540 | $44,440 | $107,010 | 60 | 0.39 |
| Arizona | $48,160 | $36,680 | $75,770 | 1,210 | 0.79 |
| Arkansas | $44,990 | $28,780 | $77,850 | 1,090 | 1.76 |
| California | $67,100 | $47,590 | $100,800 | 9,810 | 1.14 |
| Colorado | $64,620 | $48,970 | $96,490 | 1,150 | 0.85 |
| Connecticut | $59,760 | $40,290 | $102,810 | 1,290 | 1.61 |
| Delaware | $58,230 | $43,910 | $92,630 | 420 | 1.84 |
| District of Columbia | $77,850 | $48,410 | $135,360 | 410 | 1.25 |
| Florida | $56,750 | $38,910 | $78,700 | 5,980 | 1.27 |
| Georgia | $60,300 | $38,580 | $76,830 | 1,550 | 0.67 |
| Guam | $33,030 | $27,040 | $43,090 | 40 | 1.15 |
| Hawaii | $65,080 | $51,720 | $93,210 | 260 | 0.89 |
| Idaho | $48,530 | $38,230 | $69,630 | 200 | 0.5 |
| Illinois | $58,550 | $43,700 | $78,500 | 3,090 | 1.07 |
| Indiana | $58,740 | $36,840 | $91,250 | 750 | 0.5 |
| Iowa | $47,480 | $36,080 | $73,290 | 1,020 | 1.38 |
| Kansas | $56,970 | $41,080 | $82,480 | 600 | 0.88 |
| Kentucky | $44,530 | $31,200 | $71,300 | 1,000 | 1.06 |
| Louisiana | $46,030 | $30,190 | $70,750 | 690 | 0.75 |
| Maine | $60,090 | $42,870 | $77,000 | 240 | 0.8 |
| Maryland | $62,520 | $49,730 | $99,470 | 1,270 | 0.97 |
| Massachusetts | $70,320 | $47,530 | $102,570 | 2,260 | 1.31 |
| Michigan | $56,870 | $38,670 | $82,630 | 1,890 | 0.91 |
| Minnesota | $62,020 | $43,990 | $88,030 | 1,010 | 0.73 |
| Mississippi | $49,740 | $29,100 | $74,880 | 580 | 1.06 |
| Missouri | $47,940 | $29,950 | $85,770 | 1,060 | 0.77 |
| Montana | $48,140 | $33,280 | $63,230 | 180 | 0.73 |
| Nebraska | $56,160 | $43,570 | $97,570 | 550 | 1.13 |
| Nevada | $60,120 | $36,060 | $103,100 | ||
| New Hampshire | $55,120 | $36,780 | $74,740 | 410 | 1.26 |
| New Jersey | $78,770 | $49,710 | $144,870 | 2,900 | 1.43 |
| New York | $96,810 | $57,770 | $156,440 | 3,950 | 0.86 |
| North Carolina | $57,200 | $38,480 | $89,120 | 2,410 | 1.03 |
| North Dakota | $51,390 | $35,580 | $91,650 | 290 | 1.41 |
| Ohio | $49,580 | $36,790 | $77,830 | 3,030 | 1.15 |
| Oklahoma | $46,690 | $34,630 | $82,580 | 830 | 1.03 |
| Oregon | $60,250 | $43,680 | $87,800 | 1,230 | 1.32 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,380 | $37,860 | $73,520 | 4,100 | 1.43 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,990 | $38,080 | $68,620 | 220 | 0.51 |
| Rhode Island | $55,290 | $49,590 | $69,780 | 390 | 1.65 |
| South Carolina | $51,200 | $33,960 | $83,730 | 700 | 0.64 |
| South Dakota | $63,240 | $41,800 | $77,690 | 150 | 0.67 |
| Tennessee | $49,200 | $39,670 | $79,290 | 710 | 0.46 |
| Texas | $50,840 | $35,130 | $75,310 | 5,480 | 0.82 |
| Utah | $60,980 | $40,190 | $102,230 | 400 | 0.49 |
| Vermont | $63,220 | $48,540 | $88,780 | 190 | 1.29 |
| Virginia | $53,320 | $41,470 | $78,230 | 1,590 | 0.82 |
| Washington | $70,470 | $49,060 | $107,980 | 1,560 | 0.93 |
| West Virginia | $45,660 | $33,500 | $75,600 | 290 | 0.87 |
| Wisconsin | $59,930 | $39,420 | $76,430 | 1,320 | 0.95 |
| Wyoming | $56,170 | $34,700 | $104,000 | 160 | 1.19 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 5,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 5.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General CIP 13.0401
- Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision CIP 13.0404
- Superintendency and Educational System Administration CIP 13.0411
- International School Administration/Leadership CIP 13.0412
- Early Childhood Program Administration CIP 13.0414
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff and recommend personnel actions for programs and services.
- Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities and policies and students' behavioral or learning problems.
- Teach classes or courses or provide direct care to children.
- Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment and authorize purchases.
- Direct and coordinate activities of teachers or administrators at daycare centers, schools, public agencies, or institutions.
- Monitor students' progress and provide students and teachers with assistance in resolving any problems.
- Determine the scope of educational program offerings and prepare drafts of program schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
- Review and evaluate new and current programs to determine their efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with state, local, and federal regulations and recommend any necessary modifications.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- ACS Technologies HeadMaster
- Auburn Software Debit Square
- B&I Computer Consultants Childcare Sage
- Bloomz
- Cirrus Group Daycare Works
- Emerging Technologies Office Center
- GroupMe
- Jackrabbit Technologies Jackrabbit Care
- Kressa Software SchoolLeader
- MAGGEY Child Care Management Software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making, Management of Personnel Resources, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Child Care Center Director, Child Care Director, Childcare Director, Day Care Director, Early Childhood Program Supervisor (ECP Supervisor), Early Childhood Services Director, Education Coordinator, Education Director, Education Site Manager, Preschool Program Director.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare make?
The national median annual wage for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare was $59,300 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,580 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $98,240. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare a growing career?
BLS projects employment of education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare to change -3.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 5,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($96,810), New Jersey ($78,770), District of Columbia ($77,850). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.