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Boston Career Explorer

Management

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

Plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.

Also called: Child Care Center Director, Child Care Director, Childcare Director, Day Care Director, Early Childhood Program Supervisor (ECP Supervisor), Early Childhood Services Director

Median pay in Greater Boston
$72,560
$34.89/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,770
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−7.9%
120 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree
Less than 5 years of related work experience

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$47,810$55,800$72,560$79,510$103,050

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff and recommend personnel actions for programs and services.
  • Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities and policies and students' behavioral or learning problems.
  • Teach classes or courses or provide direct care to children.
  • Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment and authorize purchases.
  • Direct and coordinate activities of teachers or administrators at daycare centers, schools, public agencies, or institutions.
  • Monitor students' progress and provide students and teachers with assistance in resolving any problems.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure74 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 67
  • Language-model AIOE 73
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 82

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is on the higher side, and some workers already use AI tools. Tools can help with tasks like budgeting, purchasing, and staff scheduling. Caring for children, talking with parents, and hiring, training, and leading staff rely on people. Massachusetts is projected to have fewer of these jobs over the next decade, so building flexible skills may help.

Likely to change

  • Budget planning and purchasing decisions
  • Staff scheduling and routine program paperwork

Still relies on people

  • Direct care and teaching of children
  • Talking with parents about behavior or learning

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

    Your child development and classroom experience carry over. Kindergarten teaching has lower AI exposure and pays a Boston median of $81,700.

    Pay difference
    +$9,140 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +1.9%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Child, Family, and School Social Workers

    Talking with parents about children's behavior carries over to social work. The field has lower AI exposure and projected Massachusetts growth of 4.2%.

    Pay difference
    +$4,860 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +4.2%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

    Your skills in teaching, leading classrooms, and working with families carry over. Elementary teaching pays a Boston median of $98,060.

    Pay difference
    +$25,500 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +1.4%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

3 programs near Boston (plus 26 graduate)

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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