Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
Management
The role is running a preschool, daycare, or before- and after-school program so children are cared for and the education plan is followed. Days mix policy and staffing work—hiring, training, and evaluating teachers and aides, setting standards and schedules, and deciding how money is spent on staff, supplies, and equipment—with time spent talking to parents and staff about activities, behavior, and learning problems. Some also teach or provide direct care. They watch how children are progressing and step in when a student or teacher needs help. Suits people who like organizing a childcare program, working with adults and young children, and deciding how staff and money are used.
Typical education: Associate’s Degree (2-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$59'300
Median Wage Market Position
$59'300
What you might do
- Set educational standards and daycare program policies
- Talk with parents about children's learning and behavior
- Hire, train, and evaluate teachers and caregivers
- Monitor children's progress and help resolve problems
- Draft schedules for before- and after-school care
- Approve purchases of supplies and classroom equipment
Skills that matter
- Talking with parents about children's behavior
- Hiring, training, and evaluating daycare staff
- Help teachers resolve classroom problems
- Drafting program schedules and staffing plans
- Setting educational goals for the center
- Allocating funds for staff and supplies
AI & the future of this role
Scheduling, enrollment paperwork, and program planning tools may absorb some administrative load. Hiring, family trust, licensing compliance, and on-site supervision of young children still tend to anchor the role.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details