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Nursery school head teacher

Also called nursery headteacher, preschool headteacher, kindergarten director

Nursery school head teachers manage the day-to-day activities of a kindergarten or nursery school. They manage staff, make decisions concerning admissions and are responsible for meeting curriculum standards, which are age-appropriate for kindergarten students and facilitate social and behavioural development education. They also ensure the school meets the national education requirements set by law.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects57 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Production and specialized services managersWhat does it pay?Well above averageFrom about €3,000 (Bulgaria) to €11,300 (Italy) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Production and specialized services managersWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree6 in 10 have a degree.Production and specialized services managersWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Child care service managers · ILO

What you'd do

Child care service managers · ILO
  • Developing and implementing programmes to enhance the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of young children
  • Establishing and monitoring budgets and determining allocation of funds for staff, supplies, materials, equipment and maintenance
  • Overseeing and coordinating the provision care for children in before-school, after-school, day, and vacation care centres
  • Directing and supervising child carers in providing care and supervision for young children
  • Managing physical facilities and making sure all buildings and equipment are maintained to ensure the centre is a safe area for children, staff and visitors
  • Reviewing and interpreting government codes, and developing procedures to meet codes (e.g., concerning safety and security)
  • Monitoring children‚Äôs progress and conferring with parents or guardians
  • Preparing and maintaining records and accounts for a child care centre
  • Recruiting and evaluating staff and coordinating their professional development
Cooperate with education professionalsApply for government fundingDevelop organisational policiesAnalyse staff capacityManage staff+ 12 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the similar US job "Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as production and specialized services managers in the EU
3.46m3.53m4.8m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
1,045,000 new jobs 1,100,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Production and specialized services managers57
All jobs29
Right now
5 of 27 countries report a shortage of child care service managers, 1 a surplus.
Child care service managers · EURES

What does it pay?

Well above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €3,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €11,300 (Italy), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among managers in the EU, women earn 27% less per hour than men. Managers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in education science is the usual route.

Highest qualification of production and specialized services managers (EU, 2025)
Degree 63%Vocational 22%General secondary 8%Basic schooling 7%
Fields that teach it
Education science · Law
Vocational route, EU
Fewer than 1 in 10 trainees in this field
Education graduates in a matching job
74% in the EU

823 institutions in the EU offer education bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.30 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 9 tasks
Preparing and maintaining records and accounts for a child care centre0.61
Establishing and monitoring budgets and determining allocation of funds for staff, supplies, materials, equipment and maintenance0.42
Reviewing and interpreting government codes, and developing procedures to meet codes (e.g., concerning safety and security)0.37
Recruiting and evaluating staff and coordinating their professional development0.33
Managing physical facilities and making sure all buildings and equipment are maintained to ensure the centre is a safe area for children, staff and visitors0.23
Overseeing and coordinating the provision care for children in before-school, after-school, day, and vacation care centres0.19
Directing and supervising child carers in providing care and supervision for young children0.18
Monitoring children’s progress and conferring with parents or guardians0.18
Developing and implementing programmes to enhance the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of young children0.17

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for child care service managers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).