Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare vs Medical and Health Services Managers: $59K vs $124K Median Pay

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare vs Medical and Health Services Managers: what changes?

Consider Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare if you want to plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care. Consider Medical and Health Services Managers if you would rather plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (less than 5 years) and Medical and Health Services Managers (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare and Medical and Health Services Managers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

National median pay (2025): $59,300
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities and policies and students' behavioral or learning problems.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 5,200

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare brief

Medical and Health Services Managers

National median pay (2025): $123,860
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Direct, supervise and evaluate work activities of medical, nursing, technical, clerical, service, maintenance, and other personnel.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 62,300

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Medical and Health Services Managers brief

How the national numbers differ

Medical and Health Services Managers has the edge on projected growth

Medical and Health Services Managers is at 24.2% projected growth, compared with -3.1% projected growth for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare.

Medical and Health Services Managers has the edge on median pay

Medical and Health Services Managers is at $123,860, compared with $59,300 for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare.

Medical and Health Services Managers has the edge on annual openings

Medical and Health Services Managers is at 62,300 annual openings, compared with 5,200 annual openings for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare.

38.2/ 100

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

83.2/ 100

Medical and Health Services Managers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare vs Medical and Health Services Managers

Dimension	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare	Medical and Health Services Managers
Median pay (2025)	$59,300	$123,860
Pay percentile	46.5 percentile	90.1 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	-3.1%	24.2%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	5,200	62,300
2025 employment	91,900	640,400
How you qualify	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 4	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare brief Read Medical and Health Services Managers brief

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare vs Medical and Health Services Managers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

Medical and Health Services Managers

How the national numbers differ

Medical and Health Services Managers has the edge on projected growth

Medical and Health Services Managers has the edge on median pay

Medical and Health Services Managers has the edge on annual openings

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare vs Medical and Health Services Managers

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