Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare fall under the Management category in the U.S. occupational classification. Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare earn a median salary of $56,270 per year, ranking in the top 54% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -2.5% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare earn?

The median annual wage for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare is $56,270. That puts education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare at #441 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare is -2.5%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 90K positions in 2024 to 87K in 2034, a net change of -3K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment and authorize purchases.
2. 2.Review and interpret government codes and develop procedures to meet codes and to ensure facility safety, security, and maintenance.
3. 3.Monitor students' progress and provide students and teachers with assistance in resolving any problems.
4. 4.Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff and recommend personnel actions for programs and services.
5. 5.Determine the scope of educational program offerings and prepare drafts of program schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
6. 6.Direct and coordinate activities of teachers or administrators at daycare centers, schools, public agencies, or institutions.
7. 7.Teach classes or courses or provide direct care to children.
8. 8.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.

Top skills for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare?

The standard path into education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

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Common questions parents ask about education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare