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Center director vs school director

The differences between center directors and school directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a center director and a school director. Additionally, a center director has an average salary of $106,505, which is higher than the $68,563 average annual salary of a school director.

The top three skills for a center director include customer service, oversight and proficiency testing. The most important skills for a school director are professional development, K-12, and curriculum development.

Center director vs school director overview

Center DirectorSchool Director
Yearly salary$106,505$68,563
Hourly rate$51.20$32.96
Growth rate8%5%
Number of jobs62,34837,761
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

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 a school director do?

A school director oversees educational programs, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. They typically gather and analyze data, review reports, monitor faculty staff's performance and the progress of all teaching methods, and resolve issues should any arise. They usually work together with the teaching staff to research and develop educational curricula and programs, participate in hiring educators, and supervise staff. Moreover, a school director leads and encourages the workforce to reach goals while implementing the school's policies and regulations, developing new ones when necessary.

Center director vs school director salary

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

Center DirectorSchool Director
Average salary$106,505$68,563
Salary rangeBetween $65,000 And $172,000Between $46,000 And $100,000
Highest paying CityNewark, DESan Rafael, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandOregon
Best paying companyMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterLearning Care Group
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between center director and school director education

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

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

Center director vs school director demographics

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

Center DirectorSchool Director
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 29.0% Female, 71.0%Male, 36.4% Female, 63.6%
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, 11.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 4.3% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between center director and school 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.
  • Show more

School director example responsibilities.

  • Lead project management team in development/execution of conferences and enduring CME -accredite programs.
  • Improve student performance on district and statewide achievement tests in language arts literacy, mathematics, and science.
  • Launch several new programs: pre-K, physical education, drama, and reading.
  • Plan, organize, and administer a school for home teach students in grades kindergarten through high school.
  • Create math curriculum, develop teacher/room/subject/student schedules.
  • Supervise, develop and implement preschool and kindergarten before and after school program.
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Center director vs school director skills

Common center director skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Oversight, 8%
  • Proficiency Testing, 6%
  • Center Management, 6%
  • State Regulations, 6%
  • Federal Regulations, 6%
Common school director skills
  • Professional Development, 15%
  • K-12, 7%
  • Curriculum Development, 6%
  • Social Work, 6%
  • Kids, 5%
  • Math, 5%

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