Education & Childcare career

Childcare Center Director

Also called: Preschool Director · Early Learning Center Director · Daycare Director · Head Start Director

What childcare center directors do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a childcare center director do?

Education and childcare administrators for preschools and daycares manage programs, staff, budgets, licensing compliance and family relationships. The median pay is $59,300 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Bachelor’s plus 2–5 years of experience, and employment is projected to grow -3.1% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $59,300
    $28.51/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    -3.1%
    2025–35, a projected decline
  • Openings per year
    5,200
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    Bachelor's degree
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    Bachelor’s plus 2–5 years of experience
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    91,900
    Employment, 2025

What childcare center directors do

Childcare center directors run early learning programs. They hire and train teachers, plan curriculum, manage budgets and tuition, keep the center in compliance with licensing, communicate with families, handle enrollment and lead quality improvement and accreditation.

Most directors have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field and years of classroom experience. State director qualifications vary. Directors are central to program quality and staff retention.

Typical duties

  • Hire, train and supervise staff
  • Oversee curriculum and classroom quality
  • Manage budgets, tuition and enrollment
  • Maintain licensing compliance
  • Communicate with families
  • Plan accreditation and quality improvement
  • Handle health, safety and emergencies

Work environment and schedule

Directors work in childcare centers, moving between offices and classrooms.

Schedule: Most work full-time, often long days matching center hours.

A day in the life

  1. Open the center and check staffing ratios.
  2. Cover a classroom for a sick teacher.
  3. Tour a prospective family.
  4. Review lesson plans with lead teachers.

See a full day in the life of a childcare center director →

Childcare Center Director salary

Half of childcare center directors earned more than $59,300 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $38,580 for the lowest 10% to $98,240 for the top 10%.

Full childcare center director pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a childcare center director

  1. Work in childcare classrooms
  2. Earn a degree
  3. Become a lead teacher
  4. Become an assistant director
  5. Become a director

A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field is typical, plus classroom experience. State director requirements vary.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a childcare center director →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • Program management
  • Licensing compliance
  • Budgeting
  • Staff supervision
  • Curriculum leadership

People skills

  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Problem solving
  • Empathy

All childcare center director skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Lead meaningful programs
  • Mentor teachers
  • Community impact
  • Leadership in early education

Cons

  • Staffing shortages
  • Tight budgets
  • Licensing pressure
  • Long days

Certifications and licenses

  • National Administrator Credential (NAC): Credential for childcare administrators.
  • Child Development Associate (CDA): Early childhood credential.
  • State director credential: Required in some states.
  • CPR and first aid: Required in programs.

Career path

  1. Teacher: Lead a classroom.
  2. Assistant Director: Support operations.
  3. Center Director: Run a center.
  4. Regional Director or Owner: Lead multiple centers.

Learn the job before day one

Our Childcare Center Director training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as prepare for a licensing inspection and conduct a family tour, safety and how to land your first job.

View Childcare Center Director trainingIs this career right for me?

Preschool Teacher

Teach young children through play, routines and early learning.

  • $38,140
  • 6 months (CDA) to 2 years (associate)

Childcare Worker

Care for children’s safety, learning and daily needs.

  • $34,980
  • 1–4 weeks of required training

Office Manager

Run an office’s daily operations, staff and systems so everyone else can do their jobs.

  • $69,500
  • 3–5 years of administrative experience

Compare: Childcare Director vs. Preschool Teacher · Childcare Director vs. Childcare Worker · Childcare Director vs. Community Service Manager · Childcare Director vs. Office Manager

Childcare Center Director FAQ

Do childcare directors need a degree?

Usually a bachelor’s, though states vary.

What is NAEYC accreditation?

A quality accreditation for early learning programs.

Is the job stressful?

It can be, especially with staffing challenges.

How much does a childcare center director make?

The median annual wage for childcare center directors was $59,300 ($28.51 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $38,580 and the highest 10% earned more than $98,240.

How long does it take to become a childcare center director?

Most people need about Bachelor’s plus 2–5 years of experience of training. A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field is typical, plus classroom experience. State director requirements vary.

Do you need a degree to be a childcare center director?

Usually. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as typical, though some states allow directors with an associate degree, a CDA and experience.

More childcare center director questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Enroll in trainingTake fit quiz