Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary in Missouri
Preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators in Missouri earned a median of $47,940 a year ($23.05 an hour) and a mean of $55,500 in May 2025. The median is 19.2% below the U.S. median of $59,300, ranking 43rd of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $47,940
- Median hourly
- $23.05
- Mean annual
- $55,500
- Jobs on record
- 1,060
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 Missouri compare on pay for preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators?
Missouri ranks 43rd of 52 states and territories. New York is highest at $96,810, $48,870 more than the Missouri median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 41 | $48,160 | -19% | 1,210 |
| 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 |
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 Missouri pay go further after prices?
Prices in Missouri run 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the $47,940 median buys about what $52,787 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,300 U.S. median. On this measure Missouri ranks 40th of 50, up from 43rd 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 Missouri pay preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators the most?
Kansas City, MO-KS is highest at $58,340, 21.7% above the Missouri median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $58,340 | 470 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $49,960 | 550 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $47,380 | 30 |
| Columbia, MO | $46,430 | 60 |
| Springfield, MO | $45,950 | 60 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Missouri 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 Missouri?
BLS counts 1,060 jobs in Missouri, 1.4% of the 73,660 in the U.S. That is the 22nd largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in Missouri, a location quotient of 0.77: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.77 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Missouri minimum wage compare with pay for preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators in Missouri was $14.40 in May 2025, $0.60 below the $15.00 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in Missouri
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.