Education and Childcare Administrators Salary by State
Also called: Childcare Center Directors
The national median pay for education and childcare administrators is $59,300 a year. By state, it ranges from $41,780 in Alabama to $96,810 in New York.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $38,580
- 25th percentile
- $47,040
- Median
- $59,300
- 75th percentile
- $75,500
- Top 10%
- $98,240
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 73,660 jobs.
Median pay in 49 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $96,810 | +63% | $57,770 | $156,440 | 3,950 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $78,770 | +33% | $49,710 | $144,870 | 2,900 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $77,850 | +31% | $48,410 | $135,360 | 410 |
| 4 | Alaska | $75,540 | +27% | $44,440 | $107,010 | 60 |
| 5 | Washington | $70,470 | +19% | $49,060 | $107,980 | 1,560 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $70,320 | +19% | $47,530 | $102,570 | 2,260 |
| 7 | California | $67,100 | +13% | $47,590 | $100,800 | 9,810 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $65,080 | +10% | $51,720 | $93,210 | 260 |
| 9 | Colorado | $64,620 | +9% | $48,970 | $96,490 | 1,150 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $63,240 | +7% | $41,800 | $77,690 | 150 |
| 11 | Vermont | $63,220 | +7% | $48,540 | $88,780 | 190 |
| 12 | Maryland | $62,520 | +5% | $49,730 | $99,470 | 1,270 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $62,020 | +5% | $43,990 | $88,030 | 1,010 |
| 14 | Utah | $60,980 | +3% | $40,190 | $102,230 | 400 |
| 15 | Georgia | $60,300 | +2% | $38,580 | $76,830 | 1,550 |
| 16 | Oregon | $60,250 | +2% | $43,680 | $87,800 | 1,230 |
| 17 | Nevada | $60,120 | +1% | $36,060 | $103,100 | Not published |
| 18 | Maine | $60,090 | +1% | $42,870 | $77,000 | 240 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $59,930 | +1% | $39,420 | $76,430 | 1,320 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $59,760 | +1% | $40,290 | $102,810 | 1,290 |
| 21 | Indiana | $58,740 | −1% | $36,840 | $91,250 | 750 |
| 22 | Illinois | $58,550 | −1% | $43,700 | $78,500 | 3,090 |
| 23 | Delaware | $58,230 | −2% | $43,910 | $92,630 | 420 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $57,200 | −4% | $38,480 | $89,120 | 2,410 |
| 25 | Kansas | $56,970 | −4% | $41,080 | $82,480 | 600 |
| 26 | Michigan | $56,870 | −4% | $38,670 | $82,630 | 1,890 |
| 27 | Florida | $56,750 | −4% | $38,910 | $78,700 | 5,980 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $56,380 | −5% | $37,860 | $73,520 | 4,100 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $56,170 | −5% | $34,700 | $104,000 | 160 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $56,160 | −5% | $43,570 | $97,570 | 550 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $55,290 | −7% | $49,590 | $69,780 | 390 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $55,120 | −7% | $36,780 | $74,740 | 410 |
| 33 | Virginia | $53,320 | −10% | $41,470 | $78,230 | 1,590 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $51,390 | −13% | $35,580 | $91,650 | 290 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $51,200 | −14% | $33,960 | $83,730 | 700 |
| 36 | Texas | $50,840 | −14% | $35,130 | $75,310 | 5,480 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $49,740 | −16% | $29,100 | $74,880 | 580 |
| 38 | Ohio | $49,580 | −16% | $36,790 | $77,830 | 3,030 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $49,200 | −17% | $39,670 | $79,290 | 710 |
| 40 | Idaho | $48,530 | −18% | $38,230 | $69,630 | 200 |
| 41 | Arizona | $48,160 | −19% | $36,680 | $75,770 | 1,210 |
| 42 | Montana | $48,140 | −19% | $33,280 | $63,230 | 180 |
| 43 | Missouri | $47,940 | −19% | $29,950 | $85,770 | 1,060 |
| 44 | Iowa | $47,480 | −20% | $36,080 | $73,290 | 1,020 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $46,690 | −21% | $34,630 | $82,580 | 830 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $46,030 | −22% | $30,190 | $70,750 | 690 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $45,660 | −23% | $33,500 | $75,600 | 290 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $44,990 | −24% | $28,780 | $77,850 | 1,090 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $44,530 | −25% | $31,200 | $71,300 | 1,000 |
| 50 | Alabama | $41,780 | −30% | $27,290 | $77,530 | 940 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Education and Childcare Administrators salary questions
Which state pays education and childcare administrators the most?
New York, with a median of $96,810 a year (+63% vs. the national median of $59,300). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays education and childcare administrators the least?
Alabama, with a median of $41,780 a year (−30% vs. national).
Where do most education and childcare administrators work?
California has the most jobs, about 9,810, with a median of $67,100.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.