How Much Does a Daycare Director Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$59,300
Daycare directors in the U.S. earn a median of $59,300 a year, or $28.51 an hour. Half of daycare directors earn more than $59,300 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $98,240.
Pay percentiles for daycare directors
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18.55 | $38,580 |
| 25th | $22.62 | $47,040 |
| 50th (median) | $28.51 | $59,300 |
| 75th | $36.30 | $75,500 |
| 90th | $47.23 | $98,240 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (SOC 11-9031). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for daycare directors
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $96,810 | $46.54 | +63% |
| New Jersey | $78,770 | $37.87 | +33% |
| District of Columbia | $77,850 | $37.43 | +31% |
| Alaska | $75,540 | $36.32 | +27% |
| Washington | $70,470 | $33.88 | +19% |
| Massachusetts | $70,320 | $33.81 | +19% |
| California | $67,100 | $32.26 | +13% |
| Hawaii | $65,080 | $31.29 | +10% |
| Colorado | $64,620 | $31.07 | +9% |
| South Dakota | $63,240 | $30.41 | +7% |
| United States | $59,300 | $28.51 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many daycare directors are there?
BLS counts about 73,660 daycare directors employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare”. The most jobs are in California (9,810), Florida (5,980) and Texas (5,480).
The mean (average) annual wage is $64,800, higher than the median of $59,300.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $4,942
- Biweekly
- $2,281
- Weekly
- $1,140
- Daily (8 hours)
- $228
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do daycare directors make an hour?
The median hourly wage for daycare directors is $28.51. The middle 50% earn between $22.62 and $36.30 an hour.
Which state pays daycare directors the most?
New York has the highest median wage for daycare directors at $96,810, +63% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for daycare directors?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of daycare directors earn less than $38,580 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.