SalaryByCity

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare vs Mechanical Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

$56,270

Median annual salary

71,620 employed nationally

Mechanical Engineers

$102,320

Median annual salary

286,760 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Mechanical Engineers professionals earn $46,050 more per year than Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare professionals — that's 81.8% higher. At the 90th percentile, Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare earns $96,400 compared to $161,240 for Mechanical Engineers.

Salary Range Comparison

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$37,060 – $96,400
Mechanical Engineers$68,740 – $161,240
$37,060$161,240

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileEducation and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareMechanical EngineersDifference
10th Percentile$37,060$68,740$-31,680
25th Percentile$45,310$81,800$-36,490
Median (50th)$56,270$102,320$-46,050
75th Percentile$72,690$130,290$-57,600
90th Percentile$96,400$161,240$-64,840
Mean (Average)$62,640$110,080$-47,440

Employment Numbers

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

71,620

employed nationwide

Mechanical Engineers

286,760

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

CityMedian
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$79,000
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$77,390
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$64,180
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$62,530
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$61,880

Best Cities for Mechanical Engineers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$147,730
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$145,640
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$128,660
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX$126,870
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$124,160

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare or Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $46,050 (81.8% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare?
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salaries range from $37,060 (10th percentile) to $96,400 (90th percentile), with a median of $56,270.
What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers salaries range from $68,740 (10th percentile) to $161,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $102,320.
How many Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare and Mechanical Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 71,620 Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare positions and 286,760 Mechanical Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Mechanical Engineers to Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare has a median salary of $56,270 while Mechanical Engineers earns $102,320. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS