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Career

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $59,300 Median per year · $28.51/hr Most earn $38,580–$98,240

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Monitor students' progress and provide students and teachers with assistance in resolving any problems.
  • Determine the scope of educational program offerings and prepare drafts of program schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
  • 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.
  • Prepare and maintain attendance, activity, planning, accounting, or personnel reports and records for officials and agencies, or direct preparation and maintenance activities.
  • Prepare and maintain attendance, activity, planning, accounting, or personnel reports and records for officials and agencies, or direct preparation and maintenance activities.
  • Set educational standards and goals and help establish policies, procedures, and programs to carry them out.

Job outlook

United States
3% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 5,200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Child daycare services71.8%
  • Self-employed (their own business)5.8%
  • Elementary and secondary schools5.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

You usually can't start in this job straight out of school. Most people earn a bachelor's degree, work 1 to 2 years in a classroom or childcare role, and then move into a director job. The whole path often takes about 6 to 8 years, counting the degree.

  1. Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or child development

    4 years

    You learn how young children grow and learn, plus how to plan programs and work with families. This knowledge is the base for leading a whole center.

  2. Preschool Teacher

    1-2 years

    You plan lessons, supervise a classroom, and talk with parents every day. This hands-on experience shows you how a center runs and prepares you to manage staff.

  3. Childcare Center Director

    Varies by center

    You oversee the staff, budget, licensing rules, enrollment, and daily operations of a preschool or daycare, including before- and after-school programs.

Where it can lead

  1. Education Administrator, Kindergarten through Secondary

    2-4 years of experience first

    You would move from running a childcare program to leading a school or district, which usually calls for a master's degree and more experience with school rules and curriculum.

  2. Social and Community Service Manager

    4-6 years of experience first

    You would lead larger family or community programs, such as multi-site early learning or family support organizations, which takes strong budgeting, grant, and team-leadership skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take child development or early childhood coursesThese classes introduce how young children learn and grow, which is the core knowledge for this career.
  • Volunteer with young childrenHelping at a library story hour, a church nursery, or a rec center shows you what working with preschoolers is really like.
  • Get a starter job babysitting or at a summer campRegular work with kids builds responsibility and gives you experience to list on future applications.
  • Join a leadership club or student governmentPlanning events and leading a team builds the organizing and management skills that directors use every day.
  • Take math and writing classesBudgeting, reports, and parent communication all need strong math and writing skills.

In college

  • Major in early childhood education or child developmentA degree in this area covers the teaching and family-engagement knowledge that childcare directors need, and it is the typical bachelor's degree for this career.
  • Work part-time as a teacher's assistant at a preschool or daycareA campus or community job gives you paid experience with children and a clear picture of how a classroom and center are run.
  • Complete a practicum or student-teaching placementSupervised time in a real classroom lets you practice planning, observation, and working with families before you graduate.
  • Take business, finance, or management coursesBasic budgeting, staffing, and management classes prepare you for the director side of the job.
  • Get early childhood credentials and first aid/CPR certificationMany childcare programs and states require these, and having them early makes you a stronger job candidate.

Tips for getting started

  • Get hands-on experience with young children early, such as working at a summer camp or daycare, so you know whether you enjoy the daily work.
  • Ask a center director if you can shadow them or talk about what their job involves. Their answers will show you the management side that most teachers never see.
  • Keep track of state or local childcare licensing rules and any training they require. Knowing them is a real advantage when you apply for leadership roles.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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