Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary in Washington
Preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators in Washington earned a median of $70,470 a year ($33.88 an hour) and a mean of $79,600 in May 2025. The median is 18.8% above the U.S. median of $59,300, ranking 5th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $70,470
- Median hourly
- $33.88
- Mean annual
- $79,600
- Jobs on record
- 1,560
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 Washington compare on pay for preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators?
Washington ranks 5th of 52 states and territories. New York is highest at $96,810, $26,340 more than the Washington median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 3 | $77,850 | +31% | 410 |
| Alaska | 4 | $75,540 | +27% | 60 |
| Washington | 5 | $70,470 | +19% | 1,560 |
| Massachusetts | 6 | $70,320 | +19% | 2,260 |
| California | 7 | $67,100 | +13% | 9,810 |
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 Washington pay go further after prices?
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the U.S. average, so the $70,470 median buys about what $65,852 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $59,300 U.S. median. On this measure Washington ranks 7th of 50, down from 5th 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 Washington pay preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators the most?
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA is highest at $83,600, 18.6% above the Washington median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $83,600 | 40 |
| Yakima, WA | $72,250 | 60 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $71,150 | 100 |
| Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $70,840 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $70,470 | 950 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $65,000 | 70 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $64,900 | 50 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | not published | 70 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Washington 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 Washington?
BLS counts 1,560 jobs in Washington, 2.1% of the 73,660 in the U.S. That is the 13th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in Washington, a location quotient of 0.93: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.93 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 Washington 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 Washington was $23.59 in May 2025, $6.46 above the $17.13 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 Washington
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.