Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary
In Indiana, education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares earn $58,740 at the median, or about $28.24 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $63,980 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 29.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Indiana?
About education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares
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What this looks like in Indiana
Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,144/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary by metro in Indiana
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $59K | +1% | 30 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $59K | +0% | 40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $59K | -0% | 300 |
| Fort Wayne | $54K | -8% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 28.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,210/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare a high-paying job in Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares?
Indiana pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares make in Indiana?
The median is $58,740 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,840, and experienced education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares can clear $91,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,954/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 28.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary go in Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary is worth about $63,980 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.