What Do Daycare Directors Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for daycare directors?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what daycare directors do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Daycare Directors Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about daycare directors by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Daycare Directors plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.
Popular Job Titles For Daycare Directors
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Childcare Directors
- Preschool Directors
- Assistant Directors
- Preschool Assistant Directors
- Directors
- Daycare Directors
- Child Care Assistants
- Site Directors
- On-Site Coordinators
- Before and After School Site Directors
- Center Directors
- Site Coordinators
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for daycare directors can be found.
Best Industries for Daycare Directors
Daycare Directors Jobs By Industry
- Child Day Care Services: 76.9%
- Religious Organizations: 7.5%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 4.1%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 3.5%
- Individual and Family Services: 2.2%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 1%
- Other: 4.8%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of daycare directors can be found working in the Child Day Care Services sector. In 2022, about 76.9% of all jobs for daycare directors were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Religious Organizations (7.5%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (4.1%), Elementary and Secondary Schools (3.5%), Individual and Family Services (2.2%) and Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (1%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Daycare Directors
Achieve your goal of becoming a life-changing elementary school teacher in Ohio with Franklin’s Primary Education program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
What Do Daycare Directors Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what daycare directors do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work daycare directors do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that daycare directors tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for daycare directors, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Daycare Directors
Based on 26,026 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Daycare Directors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Education | 8,390 | 32% |
| Child Development | 5,521 | 21% |
| Marketing | 3,200 | 12% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,938 | 7% |
| Early Childhood Education | 1,886 | 7% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Daycare Directors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 10,996 | 42% |
| Management | 8,260 | 32% |
| Leadership | 8,232 | 32% |
| Teaching | 7,875 | 30% |
| Operations | 6,577 | 25% |
Based on 26,026 job postings related to daycare directors, preschool education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 32% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for child development, marketing, lesson planning, early childhood education and primary education were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for daycare directors, followed by management, leadership, teaching, operations and customer service.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Education | 8,390 | 32% |
| Child Development | 5,521 | 21% |
| Marketing | 3,200 | 12% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,938 | 7% |
| Early Childhood Education | 1,886 | 7% |
| Primary Education | 1,714 | 7% |
| Curriculum Development | 1,610 | 6% |
| Working With Children | 1,388 | 5% |
| Purchasing | 1,210 | 5% |
| Newsletters | 1,041 | 4% |
| Social Work | 966 | 4% |
| Special Education | 950 | 4% |
| Head Start (Education Program) | 945 | 4% |
| Human Services | 920 | 4% |
| Billing | 913 | 4% |
| Performance Appraisal | 891 | 3% |
| Developmental Psychology | 872 | 3% |
| Performance Improvement | 795 | 3% |
| Classroom Management | 787 | 3% |
| Auditing | 768 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 10,996 | 42% |
| Management | 8,260 | 32% |
| Leadership | 8,232 | 32% |
| Teaching | 7,875 | 30% |
| Operations | 6,577 | 25% |
| Customer Service | 5,535 | 21% |
| Planning | 5,040 | 19% |
| Organizational Skills | 3,205 | 12% |
| Multitasking | 3,137 | 12% |
| English Language | 2,876 | 11% |
| Writing | 2,864 | 11% |
| Problem Solving | 2,789 | 11% |
| Coordinating | 2,444 | 9% |
| Coaching | 2,420 | 9% |
| Administrative Functions | 2,360 | 9% |
| Scheduling | 2,155 | 8% |
| Detail Oriented | 2,009 | 8% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,897 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,869 | 7% |
| Computer Literacy | 1,762 | 7% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Daycare Directors
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Directors | 11,182 | 23.7% |
| Preschool Directors | 9,448 | 20% |
| Assistant Directors | 1,992 | 4.2% |
| Preschool Assistant Directors | 1,879 | 4% |
| Directors | 1,897 | 4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was childcare directors, with 3,983 unique job postings. Preschool directors were second, with 965 postings, followed by assistant directors, preschool assistant directors and directors.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to daycare directors.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Directors | 11,182 | 23.7% |
| Preschool Directors | 9,448 | 20% |
| Assistant Directors | 1,992 | 4.2% |
| Preschool Assistant Directors | 1,879 | 4% |
| Directors | 1,897 | 4% |
| Daycare Directors | 4,273 | 9% |
| Child Care Assistants | 2,330 | 4.9% |
| Site Directors | 2,867 | 6.1% |
| On-Site Coordinators | 1,351 | 2.9% |
| Before and After School Site Directors | 1,291 | 2.7% |
| Center Directors | 1,250 | 2.6% |
| Site Coordinators | 1,567 | 3.3% |
| Childcare Center Directors | 911 | 1.9% |
| Directors of Early Childhood Education | 1,290 | 2.7% |
| Childcare Center Assistant Directors | 730 | 1.5% |
| Floaters | 435 | 0.9% |
| Team Leads | 406 | 0.9% |
| Academy Directors | 872 | 1.8% |
| Directors of Education | 597 | 1.3% |
| Before and After School Program Directors | 661 | 1.4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for daycare directors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for daycare directors.
How much do daycare directors make?
Daycare Directors: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.