Director Of Daycare Salary in the United States

How much does a Director Of Daycare make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director Of Daycare in the United States is $76,828 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

However, a Director Of Daycare's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,646
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,568 to $85,631
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $61,049
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View as table View as graph 25% $68,568 10% $61,049 90% $93,646 75% $85,631 $76,828 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Director Of Daycare Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $85,631 $7,136 $1,647 $41
Average $76,828 $6,402 $1,477 $37
25th Percentile $68,568 $5,714 $1,319 $33
Check out Director Of Daycare Job Openings in the United States
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Southwest Healthcare Services - BOWMAN, ND

Director of Nursing

Confidential - GRAND JUNCTION, CO

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Key Factors That Influence Director Of Daycare Salaries

A Director Of Daycare's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Director Of Daycare Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director Of Daycare's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $73,845
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $74,533
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $75,680
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $76,828
  • Expert (over 8 years): $78,837
Levels Salary
Entry Level Director Of Daycare$73,845
Intermediate Level Director Of Daycare$74,533
Senior Level Director Of Daycare$75,680
Specialist Level Director Of Daycare$76,828
Expert Level Director Of Daycare$78,837
$73,845 0 yr
$74,533 < 2 yrs
$75,680 2-4 yrs
$76,828 5-8 yrs
$78,837 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Director Of Daycare Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Director Of Daycares. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $85,063.
  • California: $84,741.
  • Massachusetts: $83,611.

Top Paying Cities for Director Of Daycares

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $96,903
  • San Francisco: $95,950
  • Oakland: $93,822

What Skills Can Increase a Director Of Daycare's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 13.99% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Sales and Marketing (Mentioned in 3.22% Job Postings): Marketing consists of the strategies your company employs to generate interest in your business. Sales are the methods by which you convert that interest into a transaction.
  • Work Ethic (Mentioned in 1.15% Job Postings): A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 13.99%
Sales and Marketing 3.22%
Work Ethic 1.15%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Director Of Daycare's salary.
  • Patient Care: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Financial Acumen: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Business Acumen: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Patient Care
$92,193
20%
Financial Acumen
$86,815
13%
Business Acumen
$84,510
10%
Builds Networks
$82,974
8%
Clinical Leadership
$82,205
7%
Business Administration
$81,437
6%
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How Education impacts a Director Of Daycare's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Director Of Daycares enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Director Of Daycare with a Associate's Degree is between $81,048 and $87,354).

Director Of Daycare Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Director Of Daycare
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 15.5%
Associates 19.6%
Bachelors 46.6%
Masters 15.5%
Doctorate 2.0%
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Director Of Daycare Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director Of Daycare's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Director Of Daycare

Salaries for a Director Of Daycare can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $78,275 in 2023 to around $77,197 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Director Of Daycare salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Director Of Daycare Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$78,275
2024
$77,993
2025
$77,197
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $78,275
2024 $77,993
2025 $77,197
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Director Of Daycare

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Director Of Daycare

Here are companies hiring for Director Of Daycare and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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