truest.me
Explore CareersSponsor Someone 🎁Log InSign Up
truest.me
AboutCareer Growth ToolsWays to access truestPricingSponsor people/teamsWho is truest for
Terms of useContactPrivacy policytruest is a public benefit company
Copyright Β© 2026, Truest.me. All rights reserved.
Browse Careers
Career Explorer β†’
Tracks
See all β†’
Admin & OfficeAgricultureArts & MediaBusiness OperationsConstructionEducationEngineeringExecutive LeadershipFacilitiesFinanceFood ServiceHealthcareHuman ResourcesLegalMaintenance & RepairMarketingOperationsPersonal CareProductionProtective ServicesReal EstateSalesScienceSocial ServicesTechnologyTransportation
Top industries
See all β†’
HealthcareAdministrative ServicesK-12 SchoolsHospitality & Food ServiceHospital SystemsRetailWholesale & DistributionCatering & Mobile Food ServicesProfessional ServicesHospitals & Medical CentersEducationRestaurants & DiningGovernmentManufacturingAmbulatory Healthcare ServicesAdministrative Support ServicesConstructionFinancial ServicesGeneral Merchandise StoresColleges & UniversitiesConsumer ServicesLocal Government ServicesFull-Service RestaurantsSpecialty Trade ContractorsTransportation & LogisticsReal Estate Services
Top metros
See all β†’
New York-NewarkLos Angeles-Long BeachChicago-NapervilleDallas-Fort WorthHouston-PasadenaWashington-ArlingtonAtlanta-Sandy SpringsPhiladelphia-CamdenMiami-Fort LauderdaleBoston-CambridgeSan Francisco-OaklandPhoenix-MesaSeattle-TacomaMinneapolis-St. PaulDetroit-WarrenRiverside-San BernardinoDenver-AuroraSan Diego-Chula VistaTampa-St. PetersburgOrlando-KissimmeeCharlotte-ConcordBaltimore-ColumbiaSt. LouisAustin-Round RockPortland-VancouverSan Jose-Sunnyvale
Careersβ€ΊRolesβ€ΊBefore and After School Program Director
Director

Before and After School Program Director

You lead a before- and afterschool program β€” bookending the school day with care, enrichment, and homework support. The role sits between education and youth development, with operational complexity that comes from running across multiple sites and dismissal windows.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
S
E
C
I
A
R
Socialhelping, teaching
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Before and After School Program Directors
Professional ServicesHealthcare Β· 86%Education Β· 8%Consumer Services Β· 4%Government Β· 1%Entertainment & Media Β· 0%
Job markets for Before and After School Program Directors
Employment concentration Β· ~238 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Education
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Before and After School Program Director

A typical day often involves two distinct intensity peaks β€” early morning drop-off and late afternoon pickup β€” bracketed by planning, staff supervision, and family communication. You'll often spend the middle of the day on coordination with host schools, training site staff, and managing the operational fabric of attendance, billing, and food service.

The harder part is often the staffing reality β€” programs depend on part-time staff whose schedules are difficult to fill, and the talent pool is competitive. You'll typically manage a workforce that's often early-career or college-age, while keeping family expectations met and the host school relationship strong.

People who tend to thrive here are youth-development-grounded, organized, and energized by working with kids and the adults who support them. The trade-off is the cumulative load of a program that has to feel reliable every single day for working families. If you find satisfaction in bookending the school day with experiences that genuinely matter to kids, this role can be quietly meaningful at scale.

What people in this role value
RelationshipsHigh
AchievementAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
RecognitionModerate
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial β€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape β€” and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Financial Services$96K+59%
Energy & Utilities$92K+53%
Professional Services$91K+50%
Technology & Information$87K+44%
Wholesale & Distribution$66K+10%
Compared to Education average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Before and After School Program Directors (SOC 11-9031.00), not just this title Β· BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Education β†’
Before and After School Program DirectorTesting DirectorEducational Program DirectorEducation DirectorSite DirectorSchool DirectorDaycare DirectorChildcare DirectorPreschool DirectorChild Care DirectorPre-School DirectorExtended Care DirectorDay Care Center DirectorChildcare Center DirectorAfter School Site DirectorChild Care Center DirectorPreschool Program DirectorSpecial Education DirectorMontessori Program DirectorEarly Childhood Education DirectorBefore and After School Site Director
Exploring the Before and After School Program Director career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit β€” and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
✦ Editorial β€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape β€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$37K–$96K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
72K
U.S. Employment
-2.5%
10yr Growth
6K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$72K$69K$67K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 Β· BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Critical ThinkingMonitoringSpeakingCoordinationReading ComprehensionActive ListeningComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingService OrientationInstructing
O*NET OnLine Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
11-9031.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midHealth and PE Teacher (Health and Physical Education Teacher)$64KmidSchool Coordinator$104KmidSchool Administrator (School Admin)$104KmidProgram Administrator$75KmidProgram Instructor$69KmidEducation Coordinator$65K
View all Education roles β†’

Navigate your career with clarity

Truest gives you tools to understand your strengths, explore roles that fit, and plan your next move.

Explore Truest career tools
Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) Β· BLS Employment Projections Β· O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.