05/07/2026
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The number of child care administrators for preschool and daycares grew 11.75% between 2023 and 2024, with 7,530 individuals joining the ranks of 71,620 total child care administrators nationwide. At the same time, the annual median income for this cohort grew by 3.65% to $56,270. The combination of high growth in employment and an increase in wages suggests that the demand for child care and respective administration is increasing. But in select states, this trend was reversed – and in all states, the typical child care administrator earns less than the median U.S. household income. Meanwhile, the top echelon of workers in this field earn well over $100,000 on average.
Nebraska child care administrators see the biggest jump in income. Between 2023 and 2024, the annual median income for child care administrators in Nebraska increased 32.79% from $46,380 to $61,590. This represents nearly all of the child care administrators’ gains over the past five years, given volatile year-to-year changes in the Cornhusker State since 2019. Other states that saw the largest increase in pay for child care administrators include Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Wisconsin.
Oregon, Utah add the most child care administrators to the workforce. Over just one year, the number of child care administrators grew by 86.49% in Oregon, going from 740 to 1,380 individuals, paired with a median pay increase of 10.68%. Over five years, the growth in Utah was highest nationwide, going from 140 child care administrators to 550 – a 292.86% increase, in tandem with a 65.46% increase in pay over the same time.
In New York, top child care administrators earn over $160k. The top 10% of earners in child care administration in New York earn a minimum of $162,960. In general, New York has the highest pay for all child care and daycare administrators with a median annual income of $79,660 and median hourly wage of $38.30. Administrators in Massachusetts, New Mexico, New Jersey, and California are also among the highest paid.
Child care administrator income declined in 19 states. The median annual income for child care administrators dropped by 18.88% in Louisiana, the biggest year-over-year decline nationwide. Other states where the median income dropped include New Hampshire (-16.96%); Missouri (-13.07%); Alabama (-11.24%); Georgia (-9.62%); New Jersey (-7.50%); Connecticut (-5.93%); and Pennsylvania (-4.93%).
The demand for child care administrators is lowest in these states. Six states saw a decline in the number of child care administrators employed year over year, including Vermont, South Carolina, Hawaii, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Iowa, New York. Of these, only Vermont, Massachusetts and Iowa saw a compensatory increase in the median wage of the child care administrators remaining. For the other states, declining income paired with declining employment may indicate a lack of demand.-Data courtesy of PlayGround.
Effective Planning and Administration of Early Education Programs is a training manual that provides the information necessary for early childhood education professionals to implement a high quality educational program for young children (birth through age twelve). As professional development, th...
