Childcare Director Salary by State
BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS occupation: SOC 11-9031 Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
Childcare Directors earned a median $59,300 a year ($28.51 an hour) in May 2025 (SOC 11-9031 Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare).
The middle half earned between $47,040 and $75,500.
Preschool and childcare center administrators, wage-and-salary workers in every setting; excludes owners who pay themselves from profits.
Annual figures are BLS hourly wages × 2,080 hours. OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only, so it leaves out the self-employed, workers in private households, overtime pay and most bonuses.
How pay spreads across Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| 25th | $47,040 | $22.62 |
| 50th (median) | $59,300 | $28.51 |
| 75th | $75,500 | $36.30 |
| 90th | $98,240 | $47.23 |
| Mean (average) | $64,800 | $31.15 |
SOC 11-9031 Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare: 73,660 wage-and-salary jobs, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Pay by employer setting
| Employer setting (BLS) | Median annual |
|---|---|
| Local government schools | $90,950 |
| Child care services (NAICS 6244) | $58,090 |
Median wage for SOC 11-9031 Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare by industry, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Salaried directors and overtime
BLS says most center directors work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week.
Under the federal rules in effect on October 5, 2026, the white-collar overtime exemption needs a salary of at least $684 a week (about $35,568 a year); a salaried director paid less than that must be paid overtime.
A director can also be exempt as an academic administrator if paid at least $684 a week, or at least the entrance salary for teachers at the same establishment, and the main duty is administration directly related to instruction in an educational establishment.
Job titles do not decide exemption; duties and pay do.
OEWS wages leave out overtime pay.
Childcare Director Salary by State
Median annual wage for SOC 11-9031 Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in each state, BLS OEWS May 2025, alphabetical. "vs. U.S." compares the state median with the national median of $59,300; it is not adjusted for living costs.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th–90th | Jobs | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,780 | $20.09 | $27,290–$77,530 | 940 | −30% |
| Alaska | $75,540 | $36.32 | $44,440–$107,010 | 60 | +27% |
| Arizona | $48,160 | $23.15 | $36,680–$75,770 | 1,210 | −19% |
| Arkansas | $44,990 | $21.63 | $28,780–$77,850 | 1,090 | −24% |
| California | $67,100 | $32.26 | $47,590–$100,800 | 9,810 | +13% |
| Colorado | $64,620 | $31.07 | $48,970–$96,490 | 1,150 | +9% |
| Connecticut | $59,760 | $28.73 | $40,290–$102,810 | 1,290 | +1% |
| Delaware | $58,230 | $27.99 | $43,910–$92,630 | 420 | −2% |
| District of Columbia | $77,850 | $37.43 | $48,410–$135,360 | 410 | +31% |
| Florida | $56,750 | $27.28 | $38,910–$78,700 | 5,980 | −4% |
| Georgia | $60,300 | $28.99 | $38,580–$76,830 | 1,550 | +2% |
| Hawaii | $65,080 | $31.29 | $51,720–$93,210 | 260 | +10% |
| Idaho | $48,530 | $23.33 | $38,230–$69,630 | 200 | −18% |
| Illinois | $58,550 | $28.15 | $43,700–$78,500 | 3,090 | −1% |
| Indiana | $58,740 | $28.24 | $36,840–$91,250 | 750 | −1% |
| Iowa | $47,480 | $22.83 | $36,080–$73,290 | 1,020 | −20% |
| Kansas | $56,970 | $27.39 | $41,080–$82,480 | 600 | −4% |
| Kentucky | $44,530 | $21.41 | $31,200–$71,300 | 1,000 | −25% |
| Louisiana | $46,030 | $22.13 | $30,190–$70,750 | 690 | −22% |
| Maine | $60,090 | $28.89 | $42,870–$77,000 | 240 | +1% |
| Maryland | $62,520 | $30.06 | $49,730–$99,470 | 1,270 | +5% |
| Massachusetts | $70,320 | $33.81 | $47,530–$102,570 | 2,260 | +19% |
| Michigan | $56,870 | $27.34 | $38,670–$82,630 | 1,890 | −4% |
| Minnesota | $62,020 | $29.82 | $43,990–$88,030 | 1,010 | +5% |
| Mississippi | $49,740 | $23.91 | $29,100–$74,880 | 580 | −16% |
| Missouri | $47,940 | $23.05 | $29,950–$85,770 | 1,060 | −19% |
| Montana | $48,140 | $23.14 | $33,280–$63,230 | 180 | −19% |
| Nebraska | $56,160 | $27.00 | $43,570–$97,570 | 550 | −5% |
| Nevada | $60,120 | $28.91 | $36,060–$103,100 | Not published | +1% |
| New Hampshire | $55,120 | $26.50 | $36,780–$74,740 | 410 | −7% |
| New Jersey | $78,770 | $37.87 | $49,710–$144,870 | 2,900 | +33% |
| New Mexico | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
| New York | $96,810 | $46.54 | $57,770–$156,440 | 3,950 | +63% |
| North Carolina | $57,200 | $27.50 | $38,480–$89,120 | 2,410 | −4% |
| North Dakota | $51,390 | $24.71 | $35,580–$91,650 | 290 | −13% |
| Ohio | $49,580 | $23.84 | $36,790–$77,830 | 3,030 | −16% |
| Oklahoma | $46,690 | $22.45 | $34,630–$82,580 | 830 | −21% |
| Oregon | $60,250 | $28.97 | $43,680–$87,800 | 1,230 | +2% |
| Pennsylvania | $56,380 | $27.11 | $37,860–$73,520 | 4,100 | −5% |
| Rhode Island | $55,290 | $26.58 | $49,590–$69,780 | 390 | −7% |
| South Carolina | $51,200 | $24.61 | $33,960–$83,730 | 700 | −14% |
| South Dakota | $63,240 | $30.41 | $41,800–$77,690 | 150 | +7% |
| Tennessee | $49,200 | $23.65 | $39,670–$79,290 | 710 | −17% |
| Texas | $50,840 | $24.44 | $35,130–$75,310 | 5,480 | −14% |
| Utah | $60,980 | $29.32 | $40,190–$102,230 | 400 | +3% |
| Vermont | $63,220 | $30.39 | $48,540–$88,780 | 190 | +7% |
| Virginia | $53,320 | $25.64 | $41,470–$78,230 | 1,590 | −10% |
| Washington | $70,470 | $33.88 | $49,060–$107,980 | 1,560 | +19% |
| West Virginia | $45,660 | $21.95 | $33,500–$75,600 | 290 | −23% |
| Wisconsin | $59,930 | $28.81 | $39,420–$76,430 | 1,320 | +1% |
| Wyoming | $56,170 | $27.01 | $34,700–$104,000 | 160 | −5% |
BLS does not publish this figure for New Mexico. BLS suppresses estimates it cannot publish reliably; no figure is estimated for them here.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of preschool and childcare center directors to decline 3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,200 openings a year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (Occupational Outlook Handbook), SOC 11-9031 Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare.
Pay by leadership and support role
BLS publishes wages by occupation, not job title.
Only a few childcare titles are a BLS occupation; most borrow a broader or related occupation, and several have no BLS figure at all.
Compare figures with the same basis only.
| Role | Median shown | What the number is |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Director | $59,300 | BLS occupation (SOC 11-9031) |
| Assistant Director | $59,300 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 11-9031) |
| Curriculum Coordinator | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Family Child Care Provider | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Head Start Director | $59,300 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 11-9031) |
| Family Advocate | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Childcare Administrator | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Childcare Cook | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| ECE Coach | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Childcare Licensing Specialist | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Home Visitor | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
Childcare Director salary questions
01How much do childcare directors make a year?
The median annual wage for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare (SOC 11-9031) was $59,300 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS). Half earned more and half earned less. The 10th percentile was $38,580 and the 90th percentile $98,240.
02How much do childcare directors make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $28.51 in May 2025. BLS converts between hourly and annual figures at 2,080 hours a year, so this is the same median per hour, before overtime or bonuses.
03Which state pays childcare directors the most?
New York had the highest median in May 2025 at $96,810. Alabama had the lowest at $41,780. These are not adjusted for living costs; the state table above lists every state BLS published.
04What is the average childcare director salary?
The mean (average) annual wage was $64,800 in May 2025, above the $59,300 median because a smaller number of high earners pull the average up. The median is the better guide to a typical salary.
05Do school-run programs pay directors more?
Yes. The May 2025 median for directors in local government schools was $90,950, versus $58,090 in child care services.
06Do these figures include center owners?
No. OEWS covers wage-and-salary employees, so owners who pay themselves from the business are not in these figures.