Preschool and childcare center directors supervise and lead staffs, design program plans, oversee daily activities, and prepare budgets. They are responsible for all aspects of their center’s program, which may include before- and after-school care.
Preschool and childcare center directors typically do the following:
Some preschools and childcare centers are independently owned and operated. In these facilities, directors must follow the instructions and guidelines of the owner. Sometimes, the directors are the owners, so they decide how to operate them.
Other preschools and childcare centers are part of a national chain or franchise. The director of a chain or franchise must ensure that the facility meets the parent organization’s standards and regulations.
In addition, some preschools and childcare centers, such as Head Start programs, receive state and federal funding. Directors need to follow the requirements set by Department of Health and Human Services for program, staff, and facilities.
Preschool and childcare center directors held about 74,600 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of preschool and childcare center directors were as follows:
| Child day care services | 67% |
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 11 |
| Self-employed workers | 8 |
| Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private | 6 |
Although preschool and childcare center directors work in schools and childcare centers, they spend most of their day in an office. They also visit classrooms to check on students, speak to preschool teachers or childcare workers, and meet with parents.
Preschool and childcare center directors may find working in an early childhood educational environment rewarding, but they also have significant responsibilities. Coordinating and interacting with staff, parents, and children may be fast paced and stimulating but also stressful.
Most preschool and childcare center directors work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. They are on the job while the childcare center is open and may work early in the morning and late in the evening, particularly in centers that provide before- and after-school care. In large facilities, the director and assistant directors may stagger their schedules to ensure that someone is always onsite.
A bachelor’s degree and experience in early childhood education are typically required to become a preschool or childcare center director. However, educational requirements vary. Additionally, some employers require these directors to have a nationally recognized credential, such as the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
Most states require preschool and childcare center directors to have at least a bachelor’s degree, but educational requirements vary by state. Employers may prefer candidates who have a degree, or at least some postsecondary coursework, in early childhood education. These programs teach child development, provide strategies for instructing young children, and show how to observe and document children’s progress.
Most positions for preschool and childcare center directors require several years of experience in early childhood education. The length of experience required varies by job.
States may require childcare centers, including those in private homes, to be licensed. To qualify for licensure, staff must pass a background check and meet a minimum training requirement. Some states have more requirements, such as requiring staff to have certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid.
Some employers have additional requirements, such as the CDA credential offered by the Council for Professional Recognition. Candidates need to pay a fee, take coursework, obtain experience in the field, and be observed while working with children. This credential needs to be renewed every 3 years.
Business skills. Preschool and childcare center directors manage childcare centers and need to be able to operate the business effectively.
Communication skills. Directors inform parents and staff about the children’s progress. They need good writing and speaking skills to convey this information.
Interpersonal skills. Preschool and childcare center directors must be able to develop relationships with parents, children, and staff.
Leadership skills. Preschool and childcare center directors need leadership skills to supervise staff and inspire diligence. They also must enforce rules and regulations.
Organizational skills. Directors need to maintain clear records about children and staff. In addition, they must be able to multitask when several people or situations require their attention.
Median annual wages, May 2021
The median annual wage for preschool and childcare center directors was $47,310 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,200, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $78,350.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for preschool and childcare center directors in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private | $62,320 |
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 50,000 |
| Child day care services | 46,890 |
Most preschool and childcare center directors work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. They are on the job while the childcare center is open and may work early in the morning and late in the evening, particularly in centers that provide before- and after-school care. In large facilities, the director and assistant directors may stagger their schedules to ensure that someone is always onsite.
Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31
Employment of preschool and childcare center directors is projected to grow 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 6,400 openings for preschool and childcare center directors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Much of the projected employment growth in this occupation is due to recovery from the COVID-19 recession of 2020 and is likely to occur early in the projections decade.
Early childhood education is widely recognized as important for a child’s intellectual and emotional development. Projected increases in the population group that includes children under 5 years of age will contribute to a demand for childcare. Working parents are expected to continue to rely on childcare centers and the services they provide. However, the rising cost of childcare is expected to limit the demand for these workers over the projections decade.
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | Employment by Industry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | ||||||
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program |
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Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare |
11-9031 | 74,600 | 80,800 | 8 | 6,200 | Get data | |
For more information on childcare centers, visit
For information about early childhood education, visit
National Association for the Education of Young Children
For more information about professional credentials, visit
Council for Professional Recognition
National Early Childhood Program Accreditation
For a career video on preschool and childcare center directors, visit
Preschool and childcare center directors
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare