Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
Plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.
Also called: Childcare Director · Early Head Start Director · Education Coordinator · Education Director · Education Site Manager · Preschool Director
Median pay (national)
$56,270
$37,060–$96,400 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
71,620
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-2.5%
~5,500 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $96,400 versus $37,060 at the bottom 10% — 2.6x. The median of $56,270 leaves roughly 71% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -2.5% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 5,500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 49 states with released data, New York pays the most for this role (median $79,660, +42% vs the national median), while Kentucky sits lowest at $38,860 — a 105% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities and policies and students' behavioral or learning problems.
- Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff and recommend personnel actions for programs and services.
- Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment and authorize purchases.
- Collect and analyze survey data, regulatory information, and demographic and employment trends to forecast enrollment patterns and the need for curriculum changes.
- Monitor students' progress and provide students and teachers with assistance in resolving any problems.
- Teach classes or courses or provide direct care to children.
- Determine the scope of educational program offerings and prepare drafts of program schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
- Direct and coordinate activities of teachers or administrators at daycare centers, schools, public agencies, or institutions.
- Plan, direct, and monitor instructional methods and content of educational, vocational, or student activity programs.
- Review and interpret government codes and develop procedures to meet codes and to ensure facility safety, security, and maintenance.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Office software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- ACS Technologies HeadMaster
- Auburn Software Debit Square
- B&I Computer Consultants Childcare Sage
- Bloomz
- Cirrus Group Daycare Works
- eChurch.com SchoolPerfect
- Emerging Technologies Office Center
- GroupMe
- Jackrabbit Technologies Jackrabbit Care
- Kressa Software SchoolLeader
- MAGGEY Child Care Management Software
- Microsoft Publisher
- Mount Taylor Programs Private Advantage
- OnCare Advantage
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Psychology
- Public Safety and Security
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Sales and Marketing