Early Childhood Education Degree in Durham, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Early Childhood Education degree analysis for Durham, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$49K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5 yrs
in Durham
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Early Childhood Education in Durham, NC Overview
Durham is one of North Carolina's top college towns, with 25 institutions and a student population of 56,021. Public tuition averages $6,477/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Early Childhood Education enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Child Development and Play-Based Learning. The adjusted starting salary in Durham is approximately $54,500.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
25
Public Tuition
$6,477/yr
Private Tuition
$62,688/yr
Room & Board
$14,101/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,850/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
54%
Early Childhood Education Salary in Durham (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Durham's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Early Childhood Education salary: $50,000 starting, $45,000 mid-career, $52,000 senior level.Durham adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Early Childhood Education ROI Calculator for Durham
Estimate your return on investment for a Early Childhood Education degree using local Durham tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,477 | Private avg: $62,688
Durham avg aid: $13,850/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,312
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,350
vs HS diploma in Durham
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Durham
$113,888
Lifetime earnings premium ($196,200) minus total education cost ($82,312)
Student Loan Payoff for Early Childhood Education in Durham
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Durham for Early Childhood Education
Duke University
private
$62,688/yr
$250,752 total
North Carolina Central University
public
$6,477/yr
$25,908 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Durham Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Early Childhood Education in Durham
Durham offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Early Childhood Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Durham Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Early Childhood Education Job Titles
Early Childhood Education in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$45K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$42K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$46K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$53K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$45K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$48K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$42K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Education Majors in Durham
Instructional Design & Technology
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$55K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$55K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$55K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education Degree in Durham — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Early Childhood Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Durham.