Preschool and Childcare Center Directors

Summary

Preschool and childcare center directors provide direction and leadership to the staff who teach preschool classes and care for children.

Quick Facts: Preschool and Childcare Center Directors
2010 Median Pay	$42,960 per year $20.65 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	1 to 5 years
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	63,600
Job Outlook, 2010-20	25% (Faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	15,800

What Preschool and Childcare Center Directors Do

Preschool and childcare center directors are responsible for all aspects of their program. They direct and lead staff, oversee daily activities, and prepare plans and budgets.

Work Environment

Preschool and childcare center directors work primarily in child day care services. They generally work full time.

How to Become a Preschool or Childcare Center Director

Education and training requirements vary by state. Requirements range from a high school diploma to a college degree.

Pay

The median annual wage of preschool and childcare center directors was $42,960 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of preschool and childcare center directors is expected to grow by 25 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. Continued demand for preschool programs and childcare is expected to contribute to growth.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of preschool and childcare center directors with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about preschool and childcare center directors by contacting these additional resources.

What Preschool and Childcare Center Directors Do About this section

Preschool and childcare center directors assist staff with caring for and teaching children.

Preschool and childcare center directors are responsible for all aspects of their program. They direct and lead staff, oversee daily activities, and prepare plans and budgets.

Duties

Preschool and childcare center directors typically do the following:

• Supervise preschool teachers and childcare workers
• Establish policies and communicate them to staff and parents
• Provide training and professional development opportunities for staff
• Assist staff in resolving conflicts between children and communicating with parents
• Meet with parents and staff to discuss students’ progress
• Establish budgets and set fees for programs
• Ensure facilities are maintained and cleaned according to state regulations
• Hire and train new staff members
• Develop educational programs and set educational standards

Some preschools and childcare centers are independently owned and operated. In these facilities, directors must follow the instructions and guidelines of the owner. Sometimes, directors own the facilities, so they decide how to operate the facilities.

Other preschools and childcare centers are part of a national chain or franchise. The director of a chain or franchise must also ensure that the facility meets its parent organization’s standards and regulations.

In addition, some preschools and childcare centers, such as Head Start programs, receive state and federal funding. Directors of these schools and centers must ensure that their programs, staff, and facilities meet state and federal guidelines. For example, they must ensure that the staff meets the educational requirements set by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Work Environment About this section

Most preschool and childcare center directors work in childcare facilities.

Preschool and childcare center directors held about 63,600 jobs in 2010. Most work for child day care services. However, some work for religious or charitable organizations and for elementary and secondary schools that have preschool and childcare programs.

The following industries employed the most preschool and childcare center directors in 2010:

Many preschool and childcare center directors find working in an early childhood educational environment rewarding, but they also have significant responsibilities. Coordinating and interacting with staff, parents, and children can be fast paced and stimulating, but also stressful.

Work Schedules

Preschool and childcare center directors generally work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.

How to Become a Preschool or Childcare Center Director About this section

Preschool and childcare center directors need to be able to interact with children, staff, and parents.

Education and training requirements vary by state. Requirements range from a high school diploma to a college degree.

Education

Most states require preschool and childcare center directors to have at least a high school diploma, but some require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. These degree programs teach students about child development, strategies to teach young children, and how to observe and document children’s progress. Employers may prefer candidates who have a degree in early childhood education or at least some postsecondary education in early childhood education.

Work Experience

Some states require preschool and childcare center directors to have experience in early childhood education. The amount of necessary experience varies by state.

Certification

Some states and employers require preschool and childcare center directors to have nationally recognized certification. Most states require the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification offered by the Council for Professional Recognition. Requirements to earn the CDA include a high school diploma, experience in the field, and coursework.

Some states recognize the Child Care Professional (CCP) designation offered by the National Child Care Association. Requirements to earn the CCP include a high school diploma, experience in the field, and continuing education courses.

Licenses

Many states require childcare facilities to be licensed. To meet licensure requirements, the facility’s staff, including the director, must meet certain requirements: they must pass a background check, have the right immunizations, and meet a minimum training requirement.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Preschool and childcare center directors need to inform parents and colleagues about the progress of the children. They need good writing and speaking skills to convey this information effectively.

Leadership skills. Preschool and childcare center directors supervise staff, so they need good leadership skills to inspire staff to work diligently. They also must enforce rules and regulations.

People skills. Preschool and childcare center directors must be able to develop good relationships with parents, children, and colleagues.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of preschool and childcare center directors was $42,960 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,210, and the top 10 percent earned more than $85,110.

In May 2010, the median annual wages of preschool and childcare center directors in the top employing industries were as follows:

Preschool and childcare center directors generally work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of preschool and childcare center directors is expected to grow by 25 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupation. Working parents will continue to need help caring for children. The number of children who are of preschool age is increasing, leading to a greater need for child care and increasing the demand for preschool and childcare center directors.

Additionally, there is a continued focus on the importance of early childhood education, specifically preschool. Early childhood education is widely recognized as important for a child’s intellectual and emotional development. As the number of preschool programs grows, the need for preschool and childcare center directors will increase as well.

From 2010 to 2020, employment growth of preschool and childcare center directors in the top employing industries is projected to be as follows:

Job Prospects

Workers with formal postsecondary education, such as an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, should have better job prospects than those with a high school diploma. Those with a bachelor’s degree should have the best prospects.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For information about early childhood education, visit

National Association for the Education of Young Children

For more information about professional credentials, visit

Council for Professional Recognition

National Child Care Association