Salary guide
Childcare Center Director Salary & Pay Scale (2026)
What childcare center directors earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.
The median childcare center director salary in the U.S. is $59,300 per year, or $28.51 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $38,580, while the top 10% earned more than $98,240.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
Childcare Center Director pay scale
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly* | What it usually reflects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,580 | $18.55 | Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings |
| 25th percentile | $47,040 | $22.62 | Early career, a year or two of experience |
| Median (50th) | $59,300 | $28.51 | Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $75,500 | $36.30 | Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers |
| 90th percentile | $98,240 | $47.23 | Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas |
*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.
Monthly and biweekly pay
| Pay period | At 25th percentile | At median | At 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | $47,040 | $59,300 | $75,500 |
| Per month | $3,920 | $4,942 | $6,292 |
| Every two weeks | $1,809 | $2,281 | $2,904 |
| Per week | $905 | $1,140 | $1,452 |
Gross pay before taxes and deductions.
What affects childcare center director pay
- Public versus private schools and centers
- Degree level and state salary schedules
- Subject or specialty shortages (special education, STEM, career and technical education)
- Extra-duty pay for coaching, summer school and tutoring
- Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median
How to earn more as a childcare center director
- Get credentialed: National Administrator Credential (NAC), Child Development Associate (CDA), State director credential.
- Build specialty experience: Support operations.
- Move up: roles such as center director and regional director or owner typically pay more.
- Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.
Childcare Center Director pay vs. related careers
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of childcare center directors to change by -3.1% from 2025–35, a projected decline compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 5,200 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.
About this data
Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 11-9031 (“Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.
Childcare Center Director salary FAQ
How much does a childcare center director make per hour?
The median hourly wage for childcare center directors was $28.51 in May 2025 (BLS). Hourly pay for the lowest 10% was about $18.55 and the top 10% earned about $47.23 or more.
How much does a childcare center director make a month?
At the median annual wage of $59,300, that works out to about $4,942 per month before taxes, or about $2,281 every two weeks.
What is the starting salary for a childcare center director?
New childcare center directors often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $38,580 and the 25th percentile was $47,040 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.
How can childcare center directors earn more?
Common ways include earning National Administrator Credential (NAC) and Child Development Associate (CDA), gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as center director.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 11-9031 (Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.