Childcare Program Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Childcare Program Director make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Childcare Program Director in the United States is $81,788 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,162
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73,823 to $91,929
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $66,571
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View as table View as graph 25% $73,823 10% $66,571 90% $101,162 75% $91,929 $81,788 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Childcare Program Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $91,929 $7,661 $1,768 $44
Average $81,788 $6,816 $1,573 $39
25th Percentile $73,823 $6,152 $1,420 $35
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Key Factors That Influence Childcare Program Director Salaries

A Childcare Program Director'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 Childcare Program Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Childcare Program Director'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): $76,190
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $76,900
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $78,083
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $79,267
  • Expert (over 8 years): $81,340
Levels Salary
Entry Level Childcare Program Director$76,190
Intermediate Level Childcare Program Director$76,900
Senior Level Childcare Program Director$78,083
Specialist Level Childcare Program Director$79,267
Expert Level Childcare Program Director$81,340
$76,190 0 yr
$76,900 < 2 yrs
$78,083 2-4 yrs
$79,267 5-8 yrs
$81,340 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Childcare Program Director 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 Childcare Program Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $90,555.
  • California: $90,212.
  • Massachusetts: $89,010.

Top Paying Cities for Childcare Program Directors

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: $103,159
  • San Francisco: $102,145
  • Oakland: $99,879

What Skills Can Increase a Childcare Program Director'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 Childcare Program Director'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
 $98,145
20%
Financial Acumen
 $92,420
13%
Business Acumen
 $89,966
10%
Builds Networks
 $88,331
8%
Clinical Leadership
 $87,513
7%
Business Administration
 $86,695
6%
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How Education impacts a Childcare Program Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Childcare Program Directors 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 Childcare Program Director with a Associate's Degree is between $81,048 and $87,354).

Childcare Program Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Childcare Program Director
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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Childcare Program Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Childcare Program Director'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$73,823
Average $81,788/year
$91,929
$6,152
Average $6,816/month
$7,661
$1,420
Average $1,573/week
$1,768
$35
Average $39/hour
$44
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $91,929 $7,661 $1,768 $44
Average $81,788 $6,816 $1,573 $39
25th Percentile $73,823 $6,152 $1,420 $35

Salaries of jobs related to Childcare Program Director

Salary Trends for Childcare Program Director

Salaries for a Childcare Program Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $80,760 in 2023 to around $79,648 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Childcare Program Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Childcare Program Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$80,760
2024
$80,470
2025
$79,648
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $80,760
2024 $80,470
2025 $79,648
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Childcare Program Director

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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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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