Average Day Care Director Salary in Mexico for 2026
A day care director in Mexico earns about 633,300 MXN a year. That's 59% above the national average of 398,300 MXN.
Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in Mexico sit around 335,800 MXN a year, while the very top stretches to 965,000 MXN. Everything on this page is in Mexican peso (MXN, symbol $), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.
The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in Mexico, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.
How much does a day care director make in Mexico?
A typical day care director working in Mexico brings home around 52,775 MXN a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 335,800 MXN, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 965,000 MXN for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.
The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior day care director working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around.
How day care director pay ranges in Mexico
A good way to think about salary in Mexico is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all day care directors in Mexico earn less than 595,300 MXN a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".
Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 421,400 MXN (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 733,300 MXN (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of day care directors sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.
The very lowest reported salaries sit around 335,800 MXN. The highest stretch to 965,000 MXN, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.
Day care director pay by experience in Mexico
Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for a day care director in Mexico, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical day care director salary changes as you move through the career ladder.
- 0-2 Years385,300 MXN
- 2-5 Years+23% from previous472,100 MXN
- 5-10 Years+42% from previous671,000 MXN
- 10-15 Years+17% from previous783,800 MXN
- 15-20 Years+10% from previous862,400 MXN
- 20+ Years+6% from previous913,400 MXN
The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 42%. That is the point at which a day care director typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.
Day care director pay by education in Mexico
Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving day care director pay in Mexico. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.
Below is the average day care director salary in Mexico broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.
- Certificate or Diploma467,100 MXN
- Bachelor's Degree+8% from previous504,300 MXN
- Master's Degree+44% from previous727,400 MXN
- PhD+26% from previous913,400 MXN
Day care director gender pay gap in Mexico
The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and Mexico is no exception. Male day care directors in Mexico earn an average of 590,200 MXN a year, while female day care directors earn around 663,200 MXN. That works out to a 11% gap in favour of women, even when comparing people doing the same work.
A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.
Day Care Director gender pay gap
11%
Men earn this much less than women on average in Mexico.
Pay raises for a day care director in Mexico
Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.
A typical worker doing this role in Mexico sees a raise of about 12% every 20 months, which works out to roughly 7% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.
Across all jobs in Mexico, the national average raise is around 8% every 18 months.
By industry
Industries with the highest pay raises in Mexico:
- Banking
- Energy
- Information Technology
- Healthcare
- Travel2%
- Construction
- Education1%
By experience level
Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.
- Junior Level3% - 5%
- Mid-Career
- Senior Level
- Top Management
Day care director bonus rates in Mexico
Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.
78% of day care directors in Mexico reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes a day care director a high-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.
Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 6% to 8% of base salary. The remaining 22% of day care directors reported no bonus at all over the same period.
Which careers pay bonuses in Mexico
Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.
- Finance
- Architecture
- Sales
- Business Development
- Marketing / Advertising
- Information Technology
- Healthcare
- Insurance
- Customer Service
- Human Resources
- Construction
- Transport
- Hospitality
Day care director: public vs private sector pay
Public-sector pay in Mexico is about 8% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.
Public vs private pay gap
8%
Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in Mexico on average.
Day care director salary by city in Mexico
Day care director pay is not even across Mexico. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities in the dataset, followed by the full location table.
- Ecatepec de Morelos
- Puebla
- Culiacan
- Aguascalientes
- Leon
- Hermosillo
- San Luis Potosi
- Zapopan
- Chihuahua
- Acapulco
| Location | Type | Average | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecatepec de Morelos | City | 866,900 MXN | 903,500 MXN | 417,200-1,357,900 MXN |
| Puebla | City | 860,300 MXN | 909,300 MXN | 403,100-1,357,900 MXN |
| Culiacan | City | 858,400 MXN | 840,100 MXN | 436,200-1,320,500 MXN |
| Aguascalientes | City | 854,300 MXN | 788,000 MXN | 462,300-1,296,900 MXN |
| Leon | City | 851,200 MXN | 780,600 MXN | 459,700-1,283,600 MXN |
| Hermosillo | City | 848,200 MXN | 795,700 MXN | 447,700-1,283,600 MXN |
| San Luis Potosi | City | 844,100 MXN | 909,300 MXN | 386,400-1,345,400 MXN |
| Zapopan | City | 840,100 MXN | 791,200 MXN | 444,300-1,273,300 MXN |
| Chihuahua | City | 832,000 MXN | 800,500 MXN | 431,300-1,273,300 MXN |
| Acapulco | City | 830,500 MXN | 800,500 MXN | 431,300-1,273,300 MXN |
| Mexico City | City | 824,800 MXN | 778,200 MXN | 436,200-1,259,300 MXN |
| Cancun | City | 819,000 MXN | 836,500 MXN | 401,300-1,283,600 MXN |
| Guadalajara | City | 816,000 MXN | 783,800 MXN | 424,900-1,249,900 MXN |
| Tijuana | City | 810,400 MXN | 791,600 MXN | 414,000-1,249,900 MXN |
| Torreon | City | 810,400 MXN | 810,400 MXN | 406,300-1,249,900 MXN |
| Saltillo | City | 807,900 MXN | 838,100 MXN | 385,300-1,259,300 MXN |
| Monterrey | City | 800,200 MXN | 800,200 MXN | 399,900-1,249,900 MXN |
| Mexicali | City | 800,200 MXN | 816,000 MXN | 392,300-1,249,900 MXN |
| Guadalupe | City | 798,900 MXN | 781,200 MXN | 407,100-1,224,800 MXN |
| Reynosa | City | 798,900 MXN | 832,100 MXN | 384,200-1,249,900 MXN |
| Nezahualcoyotl | City | 791,600 MXN | 810,400 MXN | 389,200-1,235,600 MXN |
| Tlalnepantla de Baz | City | 790,300 MXN | 790,300 MXN | 394,300-1,224,800 MXN |
| Durango | City | 788,000 MXN | 724,300 MXN | 424,900-1,187,900 MXN |
| Naucalpan | City | 785,400 MXN | 816,000 MXN | 377,200-1,235,600 MXN |
| Cuautitlan Izcalli | City | 782,500 MXN | 832,100 MXN | 367,200-1,235,600 MXN |
| Ciudad Lopez Mateos | City | 780,600 MXN | 844,600 MXN | 361,600-1,249,900 MXN |
| Merida | City | 778,500 MXN | 823,400 MXN | 366,200-1,224,800 MXN |
| Queretaro | City | 778,200 MXN | 838,100 MXN | 357,700-1,235,600 MXN |
| Chimalhuacan | City | 772,900 MXN | 725,700 MXN | 411,400-1,174,600 MXN |
| Morelia | City | 772,700 MXN | 816,900 MXN | 361,500-1,224,800 MXN |
| Matamoros | City | 767,000 MXN | 719,100 MXN | 404,600-1,160,900 MXN |
| Tlaquepaque | City | 761,400 MXN | 701,400 MXN | 412,000-1,149,200 MXN |
| Xalapa | City | 757,600 MXN | 725,700 MXN | 394,800-1,159,000 MXN |
| Tuxtla Gutierrez | City | 751,700 MXN | 722,100 MXN | 390,000-1,152,700 MXN |
| Irapuato | City | 746,600 MXN | 746,600 MXN | 372,600-1,159,000 MXN |
| Mazatlan | City | 743,300 MXN | 725,700 MXN | 378,300-1,141,000 MXN |
| Toluca | City | 735,200 MXN | 735,200 MXN | 367,200-1,141,600 MXN |
| Ciudad Apodaca | City | 733,300 MXN | 762,400 MXN | 351,900-1,152,700 MXN |
| San Nicolas de los Garza | City | 731,700 MXN | 717,900 MXN | 372,600-1,125,300 MXN |
| Celaya | City | 724,000 MXN | 752,600 MXN | 349,300-1,136,700 MXN |
| Veracruz | City | 722,100 MXN | 735,200 MXN | 353,600-1,125,300 MXN |
| Cuernavaca | City | 719,100 MXN | 733,300 MXN | 351,200-1,122,900 MXN |
| Tepic | City | 718,000 MXN | 758,700 MXN | 335,800-1,132,900 MXN |
| Tonala | City | 714,600 MXN | 757,300 MXN | 335,100-1,125,300 MXN |
| Ixtapaluca | City | 707,700 MXN | 765,100 MXN | 325,600-1,125,500 MXN |
| Nuevo Laredo | City | 705,500 MXN | 759,300 MXN | 325,800-1,122,300 MXN |
| Los Reyes la Paz | City | 698,200 MXN | 659,400 MXN | 369,300-1,064,100 MXN |
| Ciudad Victoria | City | 698,200 MXN | 643,800 MXN | 378,300-1,058,800 MXN |
| Villahermosa | City | 696,700 MXN | 641,900 MXN | 377,200-1,051,400 MXN |
| General Escobedo | City | 693,100 MXN | 680,100 MXN | 351,200-1,065,800 MXN |
| Xico | City | 689,900 MXN | 646,600 MXN | 363,000-1,047,900 MXN |
| Soledad de Graciano Sanchez | City | 684,900 MXN | 658,300 MXN | 354,000-1,045,100 MXN |
| Ciudad Santa Catarina | City | 684,900 MXN | 658,300 MXN | 354,000-1,045,100 MXN |
| Villa Nicolas Romero | City | 683,400 MXN | 669,100 MXN | 349,300-1,050,100 MXN |
| Ciudad Obregon | City | 672,600 MXN | 684,900 MXN | 327,300-1,045,100 MXN |
| Los Mochis | City | 671,000 MXN | 699,700 MXN | 322,600-1,054,900 MXN |
| Tampico | City | 669,100 MXN | 643,400 MXN | 349,300-1,023,000 MXN |
| Uruapan | City | 669,100 MXN | 669,100 MXN | 332,100-1,037,000 MXN |
| Pachuca | City | 664,500 MXN | 625,000 MXN | 351,200-1,011,500 MXN |
| Monclova | City | 663,200 MXN | 650,800 MXN | 339,100-1,021,800 MXN |
| Coacalco | City | 659,200 MXN | 659,200 MXN | 330,700-1,023,000 MXN |
| Ensenada | City | 658,300 MXN | 683,400 MXN | 313,700-1,032,400 MXN |
| Metepec | City | 650,800 MXN | 701,400 MXN | 297,000-1,031,200 MXN |
| Coatzacoalcos | City | 648,200 MXN | 659,200 MXN | 315,900-1,009,600 MXN |
| Nogales | City | 645,800 MXN | 658,300 MXN | 315,900-1,006,300 MXN |
| Puerto Vallarta | City | 643,800 MXN | 672,600 MXN | 308,300-1,011,500 MXN |
| Gomez Palacio | City | 643,400 MXN | 693,100 MXN | 294,700-1,021,800 MXN |
| Campeche | City | 638,700 MXN | 675,200 MXN | 301,800-1,006,300 MXN |
| Ojo de Agua | City | 637,500 MXN | 637,500 MXN | 318,800-986,700 MXN |
| La Paz | City | 632,400 MXN | 596,100 MXN | 335,800-965,000 MXN |
| Cholula de Rivadabia | City | 632,400 MXN | 632,400 MXN | 315,900-983,100 MXN |
| Oaxaca | City | 629,800 MXN | 669,100 MXN | 296,000-995,200 MXN |
| Buenavista | City | 623,200 MXN | 674,100 MXN | 288,100-991,000 MXN |
| Tehuacan | City | 619,800 MXN | 572,200 MXN | 335,800-938,700 MXN |
| Chicoloapan | City | 615,700 MXN | 652,200 MXN | 290,800-974,600 MXN |
| San Cristobal de las Casas | City | 615,300 MXN | 605,700 MXN | 315,700-949,600 MXN |
| Ciudad del Carmen | City | 615,000 MXN | 562,600 MXN | 330,900-926,000 MXN |
| Acuna | City | 614,600 MXN | 590,200 MXN | 317,700-939,600 MXN |
| Tapachula | City | 607,400 MXN | 559,000 MXN | 327,300-918,500 MXN |
| Jiutepec | City | 605,700 MXN | 566,900 MXN | 319,600-918,600 MXN |
| Chalco | City | 605,700 MXN | 580,600 MXN | 315,700-925,900 MXN |
| Chilpancingo | City | 605,700 MXN | 592,200 MXN | 309,800-932,800 MXN |
| San Luis Rio Colorado | City | 596,100 MXN | 596,100 MXN | 299,500-922,300 MXN |
| San Pablo de las Salinas | City | 595,300 MXN | 607,400 MXN | 292,000-931,900 MXN |
| Poza Rica | City | 592,200 MXN | 568,500 MXN | 309,800-907,100 MXN |
| Ciudad Juarez | City | 578,500 MXN | 623,700 MXN | 266,000-918,500 MXN |
| Cordoba | City | 566,900 MXN | 578,500 MXN | 277,400-884,700 MXN |
| Salamanca | City | 566,900 MXN | 602,700 MXN | 266,000-899,100 MXN |
| Colima | City | 563,300 MXN | 597,800 MXN | 265,000-894,500 MXN |
| Playa del Carmen | City | 562,600 MXN | 575,100 MXN | 275,800-879,700 MXN |
| Zamora de Hidalgo | City | 558,300 MXN | 581,000 MXN | 268,900-878,900 MXN |
| Chetumal | City | 558,300 MXN | 516,100 MXN | 301,600-844,600 MXN |
| Cuautla | City | 556,000 MXN | 578,500 MXN | 267,100-875,000 MXN |
| Piedras Negras | City | 553,400 MXN | 597,800 MXN | 254,700-879,800 MXN |
| Boca del Rio | City | 543,200 MXN | 513,300 MXN | 290,800-829,000 MXN |
| Delicias | City | 538,600 MXN | 528,600 MXN | 273,000-832,100 MXN |
| Fresnillo | City | 535,800 MXN | 501,400 MXN | 282,300-814,100 MXN |
| Iguala | City | 533,000 MXN | 513,300 MXN | 275,500-816,000 MXN |
| San Pedro Garza Garcia | City | 529,600 MXN | 571,300 MXN | 243,000-844,100 MXN |
| Orizaba | City | 528,600 MXN | 487,600 MXN | 283,700-800,500 MXN |
| San Juan del Rio | City | 528,600 MXN | 528,600 MXN | 263,900-819,000 MXN |
| Manzanillo | City | 522,700 MXN | 539,700 MXN | 251,500-816,000 MXN |
| Ciudad Valles | City | 520,900 MXN | 533,100 MXN | 254,800-812,900 MXN |
| Guaymas | City | 519,300 MXN | 519,300 MXN | 259,100-805,900 MXN |
| Zacatecas | City | 518,300 MXN | 507,300 MXN | 263,900-795,700 MXN |
| Minatitlan | City | 492,700 MXN | 524,700 MXN | 232,400-780,600 MXN |
| Navojoa | City | 487,600 MXN | 524,300 MXN | 225,700-772,900 MXN |
| Hidalgo del Parral | City | 485,200 MXN | 447,300 MXN | 263,100-733,300 MXN |
Day Care Director in Mexico: FAQs
-
How much does a day care director make per month in Mexico?
A day care director in Mexico earns about 52,775 MXN a month before tax, based on an annual average of 633,300 MXN.
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What's the salary range for a day care director in Mexico?
Entry-level day care directors in Mexico start near 335,800 MXN. Top-end pay reaches around 965,000 MXN. The middle 50% of earners sit between 421,400 and 733,300 MXN.
-
Is the median day care director salary in Mexico higher or lower than the average?
The median is 595,300 MXN, lower than the average of 633,300 MXN. Half of day care directors in Mexico earn below the median, half earn above it.
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What's the gender pay gap for day care directors in Mexico?
Men working as a day care director in Mexico earn around 11% less than women on average (590,200 vs 663,200 MXN a year).
-
Do day care directors in Mexico get bonuses?
About 78% of day care directors in Mexico reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 6% to 8% of base salary.
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Do day care directors earn more in the public or private sector in Mexico?
In Mexico, the public sector pays a day care director about 8% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.
-
How often do day care directors in Mexico get a pay raise?
A day care director in Mexico sees a raise of around 12% every 20 months, equivalent to roughly 7% a year.