Head Start Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Head Start Director make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Head Start Director in the United States is $79,722 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $98,564
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,940 to $89,585
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $64,855
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
AI-Powered Talent
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $71,940 10% $64,855 90% $98,564 75% $89,585 $79,722 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Head Start Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $89,585 $7,465 $1,723 $43
Average $79,722 $6,643 $1,533 $38
25th Percentile $71,940 $5,995 $1,383 $35
Check out Head Start Director Job Openings in the United States
Executive Director CCB Risk Modeling Head of Business Management

Chase - Columbus, OH

Janitorial Aide

OHCAC Head Start - Mansfield, OH

On Call Associate Teacher

OHCAC Head Start - Marion, OH

On Call Lead Teacher

OHCAC Head Start - Galion, OH

Search More Head Start Director Jobs in the United States
Select State
Select City
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

Key Factors That Influence Head Start Director Salaries

A Head Start 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 Head Start Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Head Start 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): $74,254
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $74,948
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $76,104
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $77,261
  • Expert (over 8 years): $79,286
Levels Salary
Entry Level Head Start Director$74,254
Intermediate Level Head Start Director$74,948
Senior Level Head Start Director$76,104
Specialist Level Head Start Director$77,261
Expert Level Head Start Director$79,286
$74,254 0 yr
$74,948 < 2 yrs
$76,104 2-4 yrs
$77,261 5-8 yrs
$79,286 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Head Start 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: $100,553
  • San Francisco: $99,452
  • Oakland: $97,356

What Skills Can Increase a Head Start 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 Head Start 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
 $95,666
20%
Financial Acumen
 $90,085
13%
Business Acumen
 $87,694
10%
Builds Networks
 $86,099
8%
Clinical Leadership
 $85,302
7%
Business Administration
 $84,505
6%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Head Start Director's Salary?

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

Head Start Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Head Start 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%
view as graph

Head Start Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Head Start 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 May 01, 2026
$71,940
Average $79,722/year
$89,585
$5,995
Average $6,643/month
$7,465
$1,383
Average $1,533/week
$1,723
$35
Average $38/hour
$43
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $89,585 $7,465 $1,723 $43
Average $79,722 $6,643 $1,533 $38
25th Percentile $71,940 $5,995 $1,383 $35

Salaries of jobs related to Head Start Director

Salary Trends for Head Start Director

Salaries for a Head Start Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $78,682 in 2023 to around $77,597 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Head Start Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Head Start Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$78,682
2024
$78,398
2025
$77,597
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $78,682
2024 $78,398
2025 $77,597
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Head Start Director

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Head Start Director

Here are companies hiring for Head Start Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Head Start Director Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Head Start Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst