Hiring guide · Education & Childcare
How to Hire a Childcare Center Director
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring childcare center directors, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $59,300), recruit through college education programs and student-teaching placements, verify National Administrator Credential (NAC) where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for childcare center directors
There are about 91,900 childcare center directors employed in the U.S., with roughly 5,200 openings each year. Employment is projected to change -3.1% from 2025–35 (a projected decline). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $38,580–$47,040 | $18.55–$22.62 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $59,300 | $28.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,500 | $36.30 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $98,240 | $47.23 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Bachelor's degree (typical entry level)
- Licensing or certification required in your state
- Program management
- Leadership
Nice-to-haves
- National Administrator Credential (NAC)
- Child Development Associate (CDA)
- State director credential
- Experience with childcare management software
Where to find childcare center directors
- College education programs and student-teaching placements
- Alternative certification and residency programs
- Substitute and paraprofessional pools
- Community colleges with early childhood (CDA) programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Preschool Director, Early Learning Center Director, Daycare Director, Head Start Director
Screening checklist
- State license or certification verification where required
- Fingerprint background checks and child abuse registry clearances
- CPR and first aid certification for childcare roles
- A sample lesson or classroom observation
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “How do you retain staff?”
What a strong answer includes: Mention support and recognition.
2. “How do you handle a licensing violation?”
What a strong answer includes: Correct and prevent.
3. “How do you manage a budget?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain tuition and costs.
4. “How do you support families?”
What a strong answer includes: Mention communication.
5. “What’s your curriculum philosophy?”
What a strong answer includes: Show knowledge.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Prepare for a Licensing Inspection (see the steps)
- Conduct a Family Tour (see the steps)
- Coach a Preschool Teacher After an Observation (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Licensing, Accreditation, QRIS
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Childcare Center Director 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Childcare Center Director training. Show them the path forward: Teacher → Assistant Director → Center Director → Regional Director or Owner.
Hiring childcare center directors: FAQ
How much should I pay a childcare center director?
The U.S. median wage for childcare center directors is $59,300 per year ($28.51/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($47,040), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($75,500). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a childcare center director have?
BLS lists “bachelor's degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for National Administrator Credential (NAC) and Child Development Associate (CDA) where relevant, plus skills such as program management, licensing compliance, and budgeting.
How long does it take to train a new childcare center director?
Becoming qualified typically takes Bachelor’s plus 2–5 years of experience. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”