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 $59,300 per year, ranking in the top 53% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -3.1% job growth through 2035, projected to lose jobs through 2035. 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 $59,300. That puts education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare at #438 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 -3.1%, projected to lose jobs through 2035. Employment is projected to move from approximately 91K positions in 2024 to 89K in 2034, a net change of <1K. 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.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.
2. 2.Prepare and maintain attendance, activity, planning, accounting, or personnel reports and records for officials and agencies, or direct preparation and maintenance activities.
3. 3.Set educational standards and goals and help establish policies, procedures, and programs to carry them out.
4. 4.Plan, direct, and monitor instructional methods and content of educational, vocational, or student activity programs.
5. 5.Collect and analyze survey data, regulatory information, and demographic and employment trends to forecast enrollment patterns and the need for curriculum changes.
6. 6.Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment and authorize purchases.
7. 7.Prepare and submit budget requests or grant proposals to solicit program funding.
8. 8.Teach classes or courses or provide direct care to children.

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