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Child Development Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Child Development Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Child Development Director in the United States is $104,845 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $50.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $128,924
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $89,419 to $117,449
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,374
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Child Development Director Salaries

A Child Development 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Child Development Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Child Development 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): $97,501
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $98,689
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $99,878
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $101,066
  • Expert (over 8 years): $104,289
Levels Salary
Entry Level Child Development Director$97,501
Intermediate Level Child Development Director$98,689
Senior Level Child Development Director$99,878
Specialist Level Child Development Director$101,066
Expert Level Child Development Director$104,289
View as Graph

How Do Child Development 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 Child Development Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $116,084.
  • California: $115,644.
  • Massachusetts: $114,103.

Top Paying Cities for Child Development 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: $132,241
  • San Francisco: $130,793
  • Oakland: $128,037

What Skills Can Increase a Child Development Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 12.64% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • First Aid (Mentioned in 4.76% Job Postings): First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred.
  • Programming (Mentioned in 1.75% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 12.64%
First Aid 4.76%
Programming 1.75%
See More Skills

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 Child Development Director's salary.

  • Builds Networks: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Builds Networks $125,814
20%
Coordination $114,281
9%
Initiative $113,233
8%
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Child Development Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Child Development Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Child Development Director positions in Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Child Development Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Child Development Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$125,814$60.020%

Child Development Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Child Development 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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$89,419
Average $104,845/year
$117,449
$7,452
Average $8,737/month
$9,787
$1,720
Average $2,016/week
$2,259
$43
Average $50/hour
$56
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $117,449 $9,787 $2,259 $56
Average $104,845 $8,737 $2,016 $50
25th Percentile $89,419 $7,452 $1,720 $43

Most common benefits for Child Development Director

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

Common company salaries for Child Development Director

Here are companies hiring for Child Development Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Child Development Director

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Child Development Director?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Child Development Director roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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