Permanent recruiting for preschools and child care centers across New York.
In the five boroughs, your center is licensed by the city Health Department (DOHMH) under Article 47. Everywhere else in the state, it’s OCFS under Part 418-1. The teacher rules aren’t the same, so a group teacher who qualifies in Westchester may not qualify in Brooklyn, and we recruit against the rules that apply to you.
NYC 3-K and Pre-K for All classrooms at community-based centers need a certified group teacher, or one on a study plan who earns New York State certification within 3 years. The Day Care Council of New York has warned that public school class-size hiring will pull teachers and directors away from centers. These are some of the toughest hires in the city, so we reach out to candidates directly.
Changes adopted in November 2025 let assistant teachers and aides cover ratio for up to 5 days, up from 3, when a group teacher is out, as long as each group has an assistant teacher. If your education director leaves, a designee can cover for up to 60 days a year. That buys you time but isn’t a replacement, so we start education director searches right away.
New York has the third-largest child care center workforce in the country.
Private centers with paid staff across the state.
Average annual pay per child care employee in 2025, including part-time staff (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
We recruit for every role in New York centers, from lead and assistant teachers and floaters to cooks, assistant directors and center directors. Every hire is a permanent placement on your payroll.
Anywhere in the state. Recent searches have included Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester (Scarsdale, Valhalla, Elmsford, Larchmont, Croton-on-Hudson), Long Island and Rochester.
On roles we have recruited for in New York, posted teacher pay has ranged from about $17 to $33 an hour, and director pay from $90,000 to $150,000 a year. Pay depends on the role, credentials and the school.
Outside New York City, a bachelor’s with 12 ECE credits (or the state Children’s Program Administrator Credential) plus a year each of teaching and supervising. In NYC, the Education Director needs a bachelor’s, New York State teacher certification and 2 years teaching children under 6. See the full New York director rules.
Outside NYC, preschool lead teachers need an associate in ECE, a CDA plus 1 year, or 9 ECE credits with a study plan and 2 years. In NYC, a preschool group teacher needs a bachelor’s in ECE plus state certification, 2 years of experience or an approved study plan. See the full New York teacher rules.
Outside New York City, 18 NYCRR 418-1.8 sets (max group size in parentheses): 6 weeks to 18 months 1:4 (8); 18 to 36 months 1:5 (12); 3-year-olds 1:7 (18); 4-year-olds 1:8 (21); 5-year-olds 1:9 (24); school age to 9 years 1:10 (20). In New York City, Health Code Article 47 sets: under 12 months 1:4 (8); 12 to 24 months 1:5 (10); 2-year-olds 1:6 (12); 3-year-olds 1:10 (15); 4-year-olds 1:12 (20); 5-year-olds 1:15 (25).
QUALITYstarsNY rates programs 1 to 5 stars across the state, including centers in New York City. It is voluntary and free, and staff qualifications and experience are one of its four standard areas.
We contact you within 24 hours of your request, and our sourcing team starts after a short intake call. Book a call to talk through your open roles.
We handle the search so you can run your school. From single classrooms to multi-site networks, we find the people who fit.