Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary
In New Jersey, education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares earn $78,770 at the median, or about $37.87 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $145K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $79,293 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 40.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in New Jersey?
About education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare, local pay runs about 33% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 40.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $145K or more, a $95K spread from bottom to top.
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary by metro in New Jersey
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $76K | -3% | 160 |
| Vineland | $73K | -7% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 40.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,983/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 69% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 33% above the national median — $79K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares?
New Jersey pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares make in New Jersey?
The median is $78,770 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,710, and experienced education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares can clear $144,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,076/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 40.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary go in New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $79,293 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.