Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$59,300
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$28.51
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$98,240
entry level starts ~$38,580
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 74,000 employed

How much do Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare make?

The median pay for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in the United States is $59,300 per year — about $28.51 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $38,580, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $98,240.

That is $2,090 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary range by percentile

Half of all Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare earn between $47,040 and $75,500 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$38,580$18.55
25th percentile (early career)$47,040$22.62
50th percentile (median)$59,300$28.51
75th percentile (experienced)$75,500$36.30
90th percentile (top earners)$98,240$47.23

Highest-paying states for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New York leads the country for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare pay at $96,810 a year, followed by New Jersey ($78,770) and District of Columbia ($77,850). At the other end, Alabama posts the lowest median at $41,780 — a gap of $55,030 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1New York$96,810$46.54+63%
2New Jersey$78,770$37.87+33%
3District of Columbia$77,850$37.43+31%
4Alaska$75,540$36.32+27%
5Washington$70,470$33.88+19%

Workforce and education

About 74,000 people work as Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $64,800 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: an associate degree (about 2 years of college) is the typical entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare make in the United States?
The median Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary in the United States is $59,300 per year, or about $28.51 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $38,580, while the top 10% of earners make $98,240 or more.
How does Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare median of $59,300 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare the most?
New York is the highest-paying state for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare, with a median salary of $96,810 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare need?
For most positions, an associate degree (about 2 years of college) is the typical entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare work in the United States?
About 74,000 people were employed as Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.