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Director of preschool salary
Average director of preschool salary
$45,132
Understanding the Director of Preschool Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Director of Preschool stands at $45,132 per year. This salary can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the type of institution. For instance, directors working in urban centers may earn more due to higher demand and living costs.
Salary Breakdown by State
In states like New York and California, salaries can exceed the national average, reflecting the demand for qualified professionals in early childhood education. It’s essential to research specific regions to understand salary expectations better.
Job Opportunities and Growth
Career advancement opportunities abound for directors. With experience, one can transition into administrative roles or specialized educational leadership positions, often leading to increased earning potential. Explore job listings in your area to find openings that match your skills and aspirations.
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Where can a Director Of Preschool earn more?
Average director of preschool salary by state
The highest-paying states for directors of preschool are Alaska, California, and Connecticut. The lowest average director of preschool salary states are South Carolina, North Carolina, and Wyoming.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for directors of preschool
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $50,562 | $24.31 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $56,006 | $26.93 |
| 3 | California | $57,937 | $27.85 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $55,874 | $26.86 |
| 5 | Delaware | $54,961 | $26.42 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $52,303 | $25.15 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $53,331 | $25.64 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $51,734 | $24.87 |
| 9 | Maine | $52,630 | $25.30 |
| 10 | Alaska | $58,200 | $27.98 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $53,827 | $25.88 |
| 12 | Vermont | $50,924 | $24.48 |
| 13 | Mississippi | $45,494 | $21.87 |
| 14 | Michigan | $50,223 | $24.15 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | $45,350 | $21.80 |
| 16 | Nevada | $50,010 | $24.04 |
| 17 | Indiana | $49,431 | $23.76 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $48,976 | $23.55 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $50,102 | $24.09 |
| 20 | Idaho | $49,329 | $23.72 |
| 21 | New York | $46,233 | $22.23 |
| 22 | Arizona | $43,651 | $20.99 |
| 23 | Georgia | $43,015 | $20.68 |
| 24 | Utah | $47,442 | $22.81 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $45,429 | $21.84 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $45,733 | $21.99 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $42,887 | $20.62 |
| 28 | Missouri | $44,905 | $21.59 |
| 29 | Maryland | $47,498 | $22.84 |
| 30 | Texas | $43,915 | $21.11 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $38,974 | $18.74 |
| 32 | Colorado | $42,764 | $20.56 |
| 33 | Washington | $45,229 | $21.74 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $41,455 | $19.93 |
| 35 | Ohio | $42,611 | $20.49 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $37,584 | $18.07 |
| 37 | Oregon | $42,028 | $20.21 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $44,103 | $21.20 |
| 39 | Illinois | $39,107 | $18.80 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $36,060 | $17.34 |
| 41 | Virginia | $39,861 | $19.16 |
| 42 | Alabama | $33,556 | $16.13 |
| 43 | Florida | $38,087 | $18.31 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $37,847 | $18.20 |
| 45 | Montana | $39,566 | $19.02 |
| 46 | Iowa | $34,184 | $16.43 |
| 47 | Minnesota | $37,918 | $18.23 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $34,899 | $16.78 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $39,709 | $19.09 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $34,381 | $16.53 |
| 51 | Kansas | $31,322 | $15.06 |
Highest paying cities for directors of preschool
The highest-paying cities for directors of preschool are Oakland, CA, Sparks, NV, and Needham, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $62,695 | $30.14 |
| 2 | Sparks, NV | $51,375 | $24.70 |
| 3 | Needham, MA | $49,077 | $23.59 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $47,804 | $22.98 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $46,379 | $22.30 |
| 6 | Kansas City, MO | $44,723 | $21.50 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $44,543 | $21.41 |
| 8 | Tucson, AZ | $43,632 | $20.98 |
| 9 | Canton, GA | $43,058 | $20.70 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $42,738 | $20.55 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $42,314 | $20.34 |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | $39,639 | $19.06 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $39,509 | $18.99 |
| 14 | Duluth, MN | $38,437 | $18.48 |
| 15 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $38,385 | $18.45 |
| 16 | Murfreesboro, TN | $37,892 | $18.22 |
| 17 | Chapel Hill, NC | $35,704 | $17.17 |
| 18 | Overland Park, KS | $31,437 | $15.11 |
Director of preschool salary details
A director of preschool's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $69,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a director of preschool's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $45,132 | $3,761 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying director of preschool jobs
The highest paying types of directors of preschool are director, general director, and center director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Ministry Director | $43,203 | $3,600 | $20.77 | 7,224 |
| Child Care Director | $37,471 | $3,123 | $18.01 | 79,105 |
| Preschool Lead Teacher | $33,176 | $2,765 | $15.95 | 54,870 |
| General Director | $109,550 | $9,129 | $52.67 | 74,664 |
| Center Director | $106,505 | $8,875 | $51.20 | 62,348 |
| Youth Director | $44,333 | $3,694 | $21.31 | 7,501 |
Top companies hiring directors of preschool now:
Which companies pay directors of preschool the most?
Director of preschool salaries at KLA and Action Day Primary Plus are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of preschool salary at companies like Children's Creative Learning Center, Inc. and Daisy Education Corporation are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KLA | $107,684 | $51.77 |
| 2 | Action Day Primary Plus | $47,162 | $22.67 |
| 3 | Children's Creative Learning Center, Inc. | $42,483 | $20.42 |
| 4 | Daisy Education Corporation | $42,425 | $20.40 |
| 5 | YMCA | $41,818 | $20.10 |
| 6 | Millennium Education Foundation Inc | $41,815 | $20.10 |
| 7 | First United Church of Christ | $41,815 | $20.10 |
| 8 | Learning Care Group | $39,822 | $19.15 |
| 9 | Cadence Education | $38,048 | $18.29 |
| 10 | Community Care of Rutherford County | $37,683 | $18.12 |
| 11 | The Salvation Army | $37,673 | $18.11 |
| 12 | South Suburban Parks and Recreation | $37,572 | $18.06 |
| 13 | Stepping Stone School | $37,046 | $17.81 |
| 14 | North Country School | $36,509 | $17.55 |
| 15 | YMCA of Greater New York | $32,118 | $15.44 |
| 16 | Goddard School | $32,045 | $15.41 |
| 17 | Children of America | $31,855 | $15.31 |
| 18 | Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza | $29,391 | $14.13 |
| 19 | YMCA of Southern Nevada | $28,296 | $13.60 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Director of preschool salary trends
The average director of preschool salary has risen by $8,644 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of preschool earned $36,488 annually, but today, they earn $45,132 a year. That works out to a 17% change in pay for directors of preschool over the last decade.
Compare director of preschool salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average director of preschool salary over time
Compare director of preschool salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Director of preschool salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $45,100 | $21.70 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $43,900 | $21.10 | +7.0% |
| 2024 | $40,800 | $19.63 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $39,000 | $18.75 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $38,600 | $18.57 | -0.4% |
Recently added director of preschool salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primrose School | Preschool Director | Powell, OH | 06/29/2025 | $50,000 |
| Celebree School | Preschool Director | Baltimore, MD | 06/26/2025 | $62,000 |
| Mass Audubon | Preschool Director | Edgartown, MA | 06/25/2025 | $70,000 |
| Pediatrics Plus | Director of Preschool Services | Van Buren, AR | 06/21/2025 | $55,000 |
| Endeavor Schools | School Leader-Preschool Director | Bellevue, WA | 06/19/2025 | $80,000 |
| Cadence Education | Preschool Director | Fredericksburg, VA | 06/17/2025 | $50,000 |
| Cadence Education | Preschool Director | Waukesha, WI | 06/17/2025 | $50,000 |
| Cadence Education | Preschool Director | Norwalk, CT | 06/14/2025 | $55,000 |
| Primrose School | Preschool Director for Redmond Center | Bothell, WA | 06/14/2025 | $70,000 |
| Cadence Education | Preschool Director | Portland, OR | 06/11/2025 | $40,800 |
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