How to hire a child care director

How to hire a child care director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step child care director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a child care director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new child care director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a child care director do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the child care director you need to hire. Certain child care director roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a child care director to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a child care director that fits the bill.

   This list presents child care director salaries for various positions.

   Type of Child Care Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Child Care Director	Preschool and childcare center directors supervise and lead staffs, oversee daily activities, design curriculums, and prepare budgets. They are responsible for all aspects of their center’s program.	$11-27
   Test Center Administrator	A test center administrator is responsible for overseeing the daily operations at test centers, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They typically set goals, establish guidelines and timelines, liaise with external partners such as vendors at suppliers, coordinate staff, monitor the progress of all operations, and address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently... Show more	$10-14
   Parent Educator	A parent educator is a professional who specializes in tutoring parents on skills to help them raise children who are healthy and well-rounded. You will help parents learn the skills they may need to raise children who are healthy emotionally, psychologically, and physically... Show more	$13-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Childhood
   • Critical Care
   • Child Development
   • Quality Care
   • CPR
   • Child Care
   • Professional Development
   • Educational Programs
   • Direct Supervision
   • State Regulations
   • Program Development
   • Staff Development
   • Kindergarten

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage care for k-5 kids before and after school.
   • Establish cooperative relationship with state/regional USDA CACFP office.
   • Require to acquire CPR, first aid, a training.
   • Develop compliance and audit program for Medicare.
   • Certify medication & CPR, maintain portfolio for each student
   • Charge clients for daycare payments and merchandise using POS system.

   More child care director duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your child care director job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A child care director salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a child care director in South Dakota may be lower than in Pennsylvania, and an entry-level child care director usually earns less than a senior-level child care director. Additionally, a child care director with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average child care director salary

   $37,471yearly

   $18.01 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level child care director salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 12, 2026

   Average child care director salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Pennsylvania	$50,461	$24
   2	Massachusetts	$46,656	$22
   3	Arizona	$44,416	$21
   4	Washington	$43,464	$21
   5	New York	$41,179	$20
   6	Ohio	$38,130	$18
   7	Colorado	$36,876	$18
   8	Texas	$36,210	$17
   9	Maryland	$36,147	$17
   10	Illinois	$35,549	$17
   11	Wisconsin	$35,276	$17
   12	Iowa	$34,603	$17
   13	Minnesota	$33,401	$16
   14	North Carolina	$31,761	$15
   15	Indiana	$30,940	$15
   16	Oklahoma	$29,063	$14
   17	Georgia	$28,530	$14

   Average child care director salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Elevance Health	$46,761	$22.48
   2	Educational	$45,038	$21.65
   3	CARE	$44,236	$21.27	92
   4	Association for Mental Health and Wellness	$43,643	$20.98
   5	Brown & Brown	$43,553	$20.94	1
   6	Charter Schools USA	$40,368	$19.41
   7	City Of Lafayette, Colorado	$39,471	$18.98
   8	Right At School	$38,666	$18.59
   9	St Luke's Hospital & Health Network Inc	$37,966	$18.25
   10	Associated Recreation Council	$37,388	$17.98	2
   11	Grandville Public Schools	$36,782	$17.68	1
   12	Community Action Partnership of Lake County	$36,501	$17.55
   13	Early Learning Indiana	$35,876	$17.25
   14	St. Luke's Health System	$34,237	$16.46	12
   15	Learning Care Group	$33,808	$16.25	184
   16	Dayton Children's Hospital	$32,729	$15.74	10
   17	Finger Lakes Community Health	$31,844	$15.31
   18	UPMC	$31,654	$15.22	11
   19	BrightStar Care	$31,115	$14.96	14
   20	Choctaw Nation Of Oklahoma	$30,963	$14.89	1

4. Writing a child care director job description

   A child care director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a child care director job description:

   Child care director job description example

   ELA is here to deliver every child a joyful, caring, and engaging childcare experience that will pave the way for each child to fulfill the promise of his or her life.
   
   Job Title: Child Care Assistant Director - Early Learning Academies (Part Time)
   Join the early learning professional leadership team at ELA , a progressive, culturally diverse early learning program. The assistant director is part of the leadership team that collaborates to bring the best early childhood professional experience and organizational skills in supporting the mission and vision of each childcare center. The position includes assisting with program planning, health and safety planning, and staff training and supervision. Primary Responsibilities
   * Compliance with the Minimum Licensing Requirements and Company policies for health, safety, and licensing o Maintain knowledge of state, local, and company policies for enrollment, attendance, tuition payment, and state assistance enrollment
   o Ensure State mandated student/teacher ratios are maintained
   o Prepare timely and accurate weekly and monthly reports
   o Provide support to the Director for subsidy contract management and care contract management o Support QRIS or National Accreditation efforts * Enrollment and Attendance o Conduct informative and professional tours o Build and foster parent relationships o Familiarize parents with Center policies
   o Maintain complete and up-to-date attendance files for enrolled children
   o Conduct marketing and outreach activities to generate a waiting list
   o Develop and implement strategies to address any gaps in marketing and enrollment o Collect and file all classroom attendance and child tracking forms * Staffing o Ensure staffing levels are aligned to enrollment and attendance levels o Work with the Center Director to hire and train employees without discrimination on the basis of age, color, nation origin, gender, or sexual orientation
   o Ensure staff meet all education and training requirements
   o Maintain accurate personnel files, including electronic records that meet state licensing guidelines o Work with the Director to perform staff reviews for supplementary staff, i.e. cook, driver, seasonal teacher, etc.
   o Assist the Center Director in arranging staff schedules
   o Act as substitute Director and provide coverage as needed for absent employees, including Teacher, Cook and Before/After Care Bus Driver * Communications o Prepare monthly parent newsletter and other parent-facing communications
   o Meet with parents when needed and assist staff with parent/teacher conferences * Center Financial Management and Accounting o Work with the Director to monitor the financial health of the Center, including Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, State Assistance, and payroll
   o Complete and submit state assistance invoices in a timely and accurate manner
   o Ensure all families using the Child Care Assistance program properly sign their children in/out daily o Ensure State Assistance payments are accurate according to children's attendance
   o Process payment of invoices in a timely manner when the Director is absent
   o Work with the Center Director to ensure End of the Month paper work is complete and submitted to Regional Director * Programming o Ensure that curriculum, lesson plans, and activities are current and developmentally appropriate for child age groups o Supervise all Center operations in the absence of the Center Director
   o Plan Parent Night Out activities and assist with field trip and event planning and scheduling * Food Program o Implement program in compliance with USDA regulations and CACFP, if applicable o Develop and implement a plan for proper food supply controls and inventory levels o Perform food ordering and maintain center budgets
   o Ensure weekly breakfast billing is complete and accurate * Facilities o Answer phones, complete daily deposits and monthly billings
   o Complete and submit punch lists for maintenance
   o Plan for and conduct monthly fire drills, quarterly earthquake and emergency preparedness drills, and keep a record of the necessary information as indicated on provided form
   o Maintain common area decorations and bulletin boards, ensure dcor is current and signage is correctly spelled
   o Implement center supply inventory and ordering according to actual needs * Provide coverage as needed for the Center's Director, serving the Substitute Director to ensure the facility operates in compliance with state and local laws and Company policy and that families receive outstanding care for their children * Job Share - either mornings or afternoons * Other duties as assigned based on the needs of the Center Skills Required Ability to work in a changing environment Knowledge and ability to work in any of the roles within the program Proactive and team-oriented attitude to create a successful team environment Excellent verbal and written communication ability with parents and other members of the team Ability to create a professional, productive, and positive environment for employees, parents, and children Strong communication skills that reflect professionalism and tact at all times Enforce all policies and procedures documented in the employee handbook, job description, and any other information verbally instructed by the Center Director or Regional Director Qualifications Degree or Certification as an Early Child Hood Teacher and hold a current State Director Certification or be willing to achieve Director Certification 2+ years' experience working with children Must be Pediatric CPR certified or achieve certification within the first 3 months of employment Must obtain health assessment before employment and continue to keep current and up to date per state regulations. Employee must meet all state requirements relative to criminal background check, FBI finger printing and child abuse clearance prior to beginning employment Bachelor's degree preferred Ability to lift in excess of twenty (20) lbs Ability to pass state and federal background checks EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
   It is our policy to abide by all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination based solely on a person's race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status, veteran status (including protected veterans), marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other protected status except where a reasonable, bonafide occupational qualification exists. The Early Learning Academies' Core Values: We hold ourselves to the highest standards of excellence in everything we do. We emulate kindness and integrity with our words and our actions. We are always learning to better serve our families and each other. We welcome all into our classrooms and onto our teams. We are not a place; we are a community. Job Type: Full-time Benefits: Dental Insurance Health Insurance Paid Time Off Vision Insurance Schedule: Monday to Friday Work Location: One location Pay Frequency: Bi weekly or Twice monthly This Job Is Ideal for Someone Who Is: Dependable -- more reliable than spontaneous People-oriented -- enjoys interacting with people and working on group projects Adaptable/flexible -- enjoys doing work that requires frequent shifts in direction Detail-oriented -- would rather focus on the details of work than the bigger picture Achievement-oriented -- enjoys taking on challenges, even if they might fail Autonomous/Independent -- enjoys working with little direction Innovative -- prefers working in unconventional ways or on tasks that require creativity High stress tolerance -- thrives in a high-pressure environment Work Remotely: No

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5. Post your job

   To find the right child care director for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with child care directors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit child care directors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your child care director job on Zippia to find and recruit child care director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with child care director candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new child care director

   Once you've found the child care director candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a child care director?