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Center director vs education director

The differences between center directors and education directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a center director, becoming an education director takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a center director has an average salary of $106,505, which is higher than the $62,123 average annual salary of an education director.

The top three skills for a center director include customer service, oversight and proficiency testing. The most important skills for an education director are educational programs, curriculum development, and classroom management.

Center director vs education director overview

Center DirectorEducation Director
Yearly salary$106,505$62,123
Hourly rate$51.20$29.87
Growth rate8%7%
Number of jobs62,34824,774
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4747
Years of experience46

What does a center director do?

A center director is responsible for ensuring and maintaining the efficiency of child care facilities. Their role is to conduct various assessments, ensure that all aspects adhere to federal requirements, develop programs and supplemental activities in collaboration with child care experts, recruit and hire an efficient workforce, and train staff for professional development. Furthermore, a center director is also responsible for managing budgets, handling issues, meeting parents or guardians to discuss the scope of programs or any other concerns, and implementing policies and regulations.

What does an education director do?

An education director is responsible for implementing educational programs, developing strategic teaching procedures, and updating the curriculum based on the students' learning levels. Education directors evaluate existing teaching practices by coordinating with instructors, students, and other learning institutions, requesting additional resources and materials for their maximum learning. They also create progress reports for teaching methodologies and adjust the learning approach as needed. An education director must have a broad knowledge of the education industry, its nature, and disciplines to identify learning opportunities that would increase the quality of learning of a specific institution.

Center director vs education director salary

Center directors and education directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Center DirectorEducation Director
Average salary$106,505$62,123
Salary rangeBetween $65,000 And $172,000Between $41,000 And $93,000
Highest paying CityNewark, DESan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandCalifornia
Best paying companyMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterWebMD
Best paying industry--

Differences between center director and education director education

There are a few differences between a center director and an education director in terms of educational background:

Center DirectorEducation Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Center director vs education director demographics

Here are the differences between center directors' and education directors' demographics:

Center DirectorEducation Director
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 29.0% Female, 71.0%Male, 35.0% Female, 65.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 4.4% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 4.3% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between center director and education director duties and responsibilities

Center director example responsibilities.

  • Manage programs provide by SDE, DMH, DHS.
  • Design, implement and manage day-to-day operation of the 21st CCLC grant support afterschool program.
  • Manage daily operations of NAEYC accredit childcare center.
  • Manage daily operation for a family-own business with responsibility for sales, production, and administrative functions including payroll.
  • Manage delivery of quality early childhood education programs by establishing an environment of learning and maintaining the integrity of the programs.
  • Lead a staff of 76 FTE's.
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Education director example responsibilities.

  • Lead numerous off site rock climbing and whitewater canoe trips.
  • Manage company and teach community CPR, first aide and disaster preparedness.
  • Initiate and manage an intensive ESL program, serving hundreds of students.
  • Schedule and/or lead staff training sessions and follow-ups regarding TL process, LRE, and RTI.
  • Lead project management team in development/execution of conferences and enduring CME -accredite programs.
  • Coordinate several courses which involve development of the departmental syllabus and managing development of the departmental final.
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Center director vs education director skills

Common center director skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Oversight, 8%
  • Proficiency Testing, 6%
  • Center Management, 6%
  • State Regulations, 6%
  • Federal Regulations, 6%
Common education director skills
  • Educational Programs, 10%
  • Curriculum Development, 9%
  • Classroom Management, 9%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Oversight, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%

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