Preschool and Childcare Center Directors
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$56,270
~$27/hr · ~$4,689/mo
US Jobs
90K
Decline
AI & Automation Risk
5/10
Moderate
AI & Automation Risk
Moderate 5/10
This role is a hybrid of administrative knowledge work and high-stakes physical presence. While AI can significantly automate digital tasks like budgeting, scheduling, and curriculum planning, the core of the job involves physical facility oversight, staff supervision, and building trust-based relationships with parents and children that cannot be replicated by AI.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NMBEST VALUE | $67,450 | Below avg (93.6) | $72,041 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $64,620 | Below avg (89.9) | $71,881 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $79,000 | Above avg (112.6) | $70,132 |
| Modesto, CA | $73,660 | Above avg (105.1) | $70,068 |
| Lincoln, NE | $63,860 | Below avg (91.9) | $69,494 |
| Vineland, NJ | $65,080 | Below avg (93.9) | $69,297 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $77,390 | Above avg (112.7) | $68,650 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $64,030 | Below avg (93.5) | $68,471 |
| Binghamton, NY | $62,860 | Below avg (92.1) | $68,259 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $77,120 | Above avg (113.1) | $68,212 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $69,820 | Average (102.4) | $68,172 |
| Rockford, IL | $60,330 | Below avg (90.2) | $66,910 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $71,280 | Above avg (107.0) | $66,610 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $59,300 | Below avg (89.1) | $66,528 |
| Dover, DE | $60,910 | Below avg (91.9) | $66,258 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
10-Year Growth
-3% (Decline)
Hourly Rate
~$27/hr
Monthly Income
~$4,689/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)