Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary in Iowa
Preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators in Iowa earned a median of $47,480 a year ($22.83 an hour) and a mean of $51,980 in May 2025. The median is 19.9% below the U.S. median of $59,300, ranking 44th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $47,480
- Median hourly
- $22.83
- Mean annual
- $51,980
- Jobs on record
- 1,020
Grey needle: U.S. median, $59,300 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Iowa compare on pay for preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators?
Iowa ranks 44th of 52 states and territories. New York is highest at $96,810, $49,330 more than the Iowa median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 42 | $48,140 | -19% | 180 |
| Missouri | 43 | $47,940 | -19% | 1,060 |
| Iowa | 44 | $47,480 | -20% | 1,020 |
| Oklahoma | 45 | $46,690 | -21% | 830 |
| Louisiana | 46 | $46,030 | -22% | 690 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 52 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Iowa pay go further after prices?
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the U.S. average, so the $47,480 median buys about what $54,101 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,300 U.S. median. On this measure Iowa ranks 34th of 50, up from 44th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Iowa pay preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators the most?
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD is highest at $52,880, 11.4% above the Iowa median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $52,880 | 30 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $51,810 | 60 |
| Dubuque, IA | $49,650 | 40 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $49,210 | 300 |
| Ames, IA | $47,660 | 50 |
| Iowa City, IA | $47,570 | 100 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $47,370 | 80 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $45,900 | 70 |
| Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,840 | 50 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,240 | 90 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,170 | 100 |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $44,780 | 70 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Iowa is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators work in Iowa?
BLS counts 1,020 jobs in Iowa, 1.4% of the 73,660 in the U.S. That is the 23rd largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in Iowa, a location quotient of 1.38: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.38 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in Iowa
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.