Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare earn a median $59,300 a year nationally. Management Occupations
U.S. median
$59,300
$28.51 per hour
Range
$38,580 – $98,240
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
73,660
across the U.S.
▲5.4%
Pay trend: The median for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare in the U.S. rose from $56,270 (May 2024) to $59,300 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 3.0%.
What 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.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.1% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 5,200
- Self-employed
- 6%
Employment of education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare is projected to shrink 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 5,200 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$49,828
per year · effective tax rate 16.0%
$4,152Monthly
$2,076Twice a month
$1,916Every 2 weeks
$23.96Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,936
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,677
- Medicare (1.45%)$860
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$49,828
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,580 | $18.55 | $33,179 |
| 25th percentile | $47,040 | $22.62 | $39,977 |
| Median (50th) | $59,300 | $28.51 | $49,828 |
| 75th percentile | $75,500 | $36.30 | $61,944 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,240 | $47.23 | $77,942 |
Best cities for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $98,470 | $73,334 | $65,149 | 5,020 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $67,140 | $53,031 | $46,696 | 2,570 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,960 | $47,744 | $46,555 | 2,450 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $59,150 | $46,924 | $45,296 | 2,530 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $98,470
- Los Angeles, CA — $67,140
- Chicago, IL — $59,150
- Philadelphia, PA — $58,960
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $96,810 | +21.5% | $72,264 | $57,770 – $156,440 | 3,950 |
| New Jersey | $78,770 | +18.7% | $61,417 | $49,710 – $144,870 | 2,900 |
| District of Columbia | $77,850 | +2.1% | $59,949 | $48,410 – $135,360 | 410 |
| Alaska | $75,540 | — | $61,972 | $44,440 – $107,010 | 60 |
| Washington | $70,470 | +9.5% | $58,406 | $49,060 – $107,980 | 1,560 |
| Massachusetts | $70,320 | +2.4% | $55,004 | $47,530 – $102,570 | 2,260 |
| California | $67,100 | +2.6% | $53,007 | $47,590 – $100,800 | 9,810 |
| Hawaii | $65,080 | +2.9% | $51,056 | $51,720 – $93,210 | 260 |
| Colorado | $64,620 | +5.7% | $51,967 | $48,970 – $96,490 | 1,150 |
| South Dakota | $63,240 | +14.4% | $52,993 | $41,800 – $77,690 | 150 |
| Vermont | $63,220 | +8.5% | $51,265 | $48,540 – $88,780 | 190 |
| Maryland | $62,520 | — | $49,809 | $49,730 – $99,470 | 1,270 |
| Minnesota | $62,020 | +3.6% | $49,319 | $43,990 – $88,030 | 1,010 |
| Utah | $60,980 | +2.7% | $49,399 | $40,190 – $102,230 | 400 |
| Georgia | $60,300 | +35.5% | $48,124 | $38,580 – $76,830 | 1,550 |
| Oregon | $60,250 | +10.5% | $46,149 | $43,680 – $87,800 | 1,230 |
| Nevada | $60,120 | −0.1% | $50,486 | $36,060 – $103,100 | — |
| Maine | $60,090 | +18.7% | $47,588 | $42,870 – $77,000 | 240 |
| Wisconsin | $59,930 | +3.7% | $48,478 | $39,420 – $76,430 | 1,320 |
| Connecticut | $59,760 | −0.9% | $48,433 | $40,290 – $102,810 | 1,290 |
| Indiana | $58,740 | +16.9% | $47,674 | $36,840 – $91,250 | 750 |
| Illinois | $58,550 | +20.5% | $46,471 | $43,700 – $78,500 | 3,090 |
| Delaware | $58,230 | −8.9% | $46,413 | $43,910 – $92,630 | 420 |
| North Carolina | $57,200 | +13.8% | $46,367 | $38,480 – $89,120 | 2,410 |
| Kansas | $56,970 | +10.3% | $45,576 | $41,080 – $82,480 | 600 |
| Michigan | $56,870 | +3.2% | $45,709 | $38,670 – $82,630 | 1,890 |
| Florida | $56,750 | +13.5% | $47,779 | $38,910 – $78,700 | 5,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,380 | +11.6% | $45,750 | $37,860 – $73,520 | 4,100 |
| Wyoming | $56,170 | +18.9% | $47,313 | $34,700 – $104,000 | 160 |
| Nebraska | $56,160 | −8.8% | $45,629 | $43,570 – $97,570 | 550 |
| Rhode Island | $55,290 | +10.3% | $45,149 | $49,590 – $69,780 | 390 |
| New Hampshire | $55,120 | +10.2% | $46,469 | $36,780 – $74,740 | 410 |
| Virginia | $53,320 | −10.3% | $42,771 | $41,470 – $78,230 | 1,590 |
| North Dakota | $51,390 | +11.0% | $43,472 | $35,580 – $91,650 | 290 |
| South Carolina | $51,200 | +9.8% | $41,404 | $33,960 – $83,730 | 700 |
| Texas | $50,840 | +4.8% | $43,030 | $35,130 – $75,310 | 5,480 |
| Mississippi | $49,740 | +22.4% | $40,888 | $29,100 – $74,880 | 580 |
| Ohio | $49,580 | +5.2% | $41,436 | $36,790 – $77,830 | 3,030 |
| Tennessee | $49,200 | +7.8% | $41,712 | $39,670 – $79,290 | 710 |
| Idaho | $48,530 | — | $39,710 | $38,230 – $69,630 | 200 |
| Arizona | $48,160 | −2.2% | $39,881 | $36,680 – $75,770 | 1,210 |
| Montana | $48,140 | −8.0% | $39,355 | $33,280 – $63,230 | 180 |
| Missouri | $47,940 | +21.8% | $39,384 | $29,950 – $85,770 | 1,060 |
| Iowa | $47,480 | +2.0% | $39,178 | $36,080 – $73,290 | 1,020 |
| Oklahoma | $46,690 | +5.8% | $38,140 | $34,630 – $82,580 | 830 |
| Louisiana | $46,030 | +14.4% | $38,170 | $30,190 – $70,750 | 690 |
| West Virginia | $45,660 | +3.2% | $37,540 | $33,500 – $75,600 | 290 |
| Arkansas | $44,990 | +6.0% | $36,788 | $28,780 – $77,850 | 1,090 |
| Kentucky | $44,530 | +14.6% | $36,519 | $31,200 – $71,300 | 1,000 |
| Alabama | $41,780 | +1.5% | $33,926 | $27,290 – $77,530 | 940 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education Administrators, All Other | $95,200 | Bachelor's degree | +1.6% |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $104,590 | Master's degree | +1.8% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $105,870 | Master's degree | -0.3% |
| Lodging Manager | $69,250 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.8% |
| Food Service Manager | $69,390 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.8% |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $69,770 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.2% |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $69,990 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.7% |
| Funeral Home Manager | $78,790 | Associate's degree | +4.1% |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $79,520 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $80,390 | Bachelor's degree | +7.2% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare make?
The national median salary for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare is $59,300 a year ($28.51 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,580 and the top 10% earn over $98,240. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare the most?
New York has the highest median pay at $96,810. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare are there in the U.S.?
About 73,660 people work as education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare nationwide.