Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary
In Washington, education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares earn $70,470 at the median, or about $33.88 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $108K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $69,081 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 37.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in Washington?
About education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare, local pay runs about 19% 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 $1,830/month, which is 37.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) 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, Washington
Entry-level education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $108K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary by metro in Washington
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $84K | +19% | 40 |
| Yakima | $72K | +3% | 60 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $71K | +1% | 100 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $70K | +0% | 950 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $65K | -8% | 70 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 37.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,944/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $70K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares?
Washington pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares make in Washington?
The median is $70,470 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,060, and experienced education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares can clear $107,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,830/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 37.9% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary is worth about $69,081 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.