Management
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.
Median pay
$59,300
Growth to 2035
−3%
declining
Openings a year
5,200
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
Calculate your switch to education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare: 50% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: 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
Outlook and AI
Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare held 91,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 89,000 by 2035 (−3%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare vs. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare vs. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare vs. Social and community service managers
- Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare vs. Special education teachers, secondary school
- Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare vs. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare vs. Health education specialist
- Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare vs. Instructional coordinator
- Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare vs. Training and development managers