Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
SOC code 11-9031 · O*NET-SOC 11-9031.00 · Considerable preparation needed
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$59,300
a year
Hourly
$28.51
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$64,800
$31.15 per hour
Middle 50%
$47,040 – $75,500
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$38,580 – $98,240
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
73,660
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $38,580
- $18.55/hr
- 25th percentile
- $47,040
- $22.62/hr
- Median percentile
- $59,300
- $28.51/hr
- 75th percentile
- $75,500
- $36.30/hr
- 90th percentile
- $98,240
- $47.23/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
-3%
Declining
90,200
jobs in 2024
87,900
projected for 2034
About 2,300 fewer jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does an education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare earn?
The national median is $59,300 a year. The full range runs from $38,580 at the 10th percentile to $98,240 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to shrink by about 3% between 2024 and 2034 — declining. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
- Learning Strategies3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Education and Training4.5/5
- Administration and Management4.5/5
- Personnel and Human Resources4.3/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.2/5
- Administrative4.1/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Psychology3.6/5
- Economics and Accounting3.3/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination.