Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary in Kentucky
Preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators in Kentucky earned a median of $44,530 a year ($21.41 an hour) and a mean of $48,370 in May 2025. The median is 24.9% below the U.S. median of $59,300, ranking 50th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $44,530
- Median hourly
- $21.41
- Mean annual
- $48,370
- Jobs on record
- 1,000
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 Kentucky compare on pay for preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators?
Kentucky ranks 50th of 52 states and territories. New York is highest at $96,810, $52,280 more than the Kentucky median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 48 | $45,660 | -23% | 290 |
| Arkansas | 49 | $44,990 | -24% | 1,090 |
| Kentucky | 50 | $44,530 | -25% | 1,000 |
| Alabama | 51 | $41,780 | -30% | 940 |
| Guam | 52 | $33,030 | -44% | 40 |
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 Kentucky pay go further after prices?
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the U.S. average, so the $44,530 median buys about what $49,391 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,300 U.S. median. On this measure Kentucky ranks 48th of 50, up from 49th 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 Kentucky pay preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators the most?
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN is highest at $46,280, 3.9% above the Kentucky median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $46,280 | 350 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $45,650 | 140 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $44,500 | 80 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $43,060 | 50 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $42,530 | 50 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $42,390 | 90 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $37,000 | 50 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Kentucky 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 Kentucky?
BLS counts 1,000 jobs in Kentucky, 1.4% of the 73,660 in the U.S. That is the 25th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 0.50 of every 1,000 jobs in Kentucky, a location quotient of 1.06: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.06 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 Kentucky
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.