Head Start Program Director

Runs a federally funded preschool program for low-income families.

A day in the life

Reviews enrollment and health screenings for 300 kids, prepares for a federal monitoring review, and meets with a parent council.

Pay over a career

Starting
$50k
Typical
$72k
High
$105k

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 8 years after high school. Bachelor's or master's in early childhood plus management experience.

Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.

Majors to look at: Early Childhood Education, Public Administration.

Outlook

Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years).

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI drafts federal reports and tracks screenings, trimming admin; parent councils and leading staff stay human.

Start now, in high school

Classes: Child development CTE class, Business, Government.

Official data: O*NET occupation 11-9031.

More Childcare & Youth Services careers

Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.