Childcare Workers: Career Overview
Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.
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What Tasks Do Childcare Workers Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of childcare workers span:
- Maintain a safe play environment.
- Observe and monitor children's play activities.
- Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.
- Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.
- Care for children in institutional setting, such as group homes, nursery schools, private businesses, or schools for people with disabilities.
- Sanitize toys and play equipment.
- Dress children and change diapers.
- Keep records on individual children, including daily observations and information about activities, meals served, and medications administered.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective childcare workers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- After School Coordinator
- After School Counselor
- Attendant
- Baby Attendant
- Baby Sitter
- Before and After School Daycare Worker
- Boarding Mother
- Care Provider
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 395,644 childcare workers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +10.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Childcare Workers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $50,186 |
| Hourly median | $24.13 |
| 10th percentile | $35,036 |
| 25th percentile | $42,611 |
| 75th percentile | $57,762 |
| 90th percentile | $65,337 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Childcare Workers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $45,400 |
| Massachusetts | $39,290 |
| Colorado | $38,410 |
| California | $38,220 |
| Vermont | $37,830 |
| Washington | $37,800 |
| New York | $36,630 |
| Hawaii | $36,440 |
| Oregon | $36,250 |
| Connecticut | $35,290 |
| Maryland | $35,150 |
| Arizona | $35,140 |
| Alaska | $34,980 |
| Rhode Island | $34,920 |
| Maine | $34,720 |
| New Hampshire | $34,570 |
| New Jersey | $34,290 |
| New Mexico | $34,240 |
| Minnesota | $33,610 |
| Illinois | $32,860 |
| Montana | $31,440 |
| Florida | $30,880 |
| Utah | $30,860 |
| North Dakota | $30,390 |
| Virginia | $30,150 |
| Delaware | $30,060 |
| Missouri | $29,810 |
| Wisconsin | $29,670 |
| Indiana | $29,340 |
| Michigan | $29,290 |
| Nevada | $29,140 |
| Idaho | $29,110 |
| Tennessee | $29,030 |
| Nebraska | $28,860 |
| Kansas | $28,800 |
| Kentucky | $28,570 |
| Texas | $28,520 |
| North Carolina | $28,480 |
| South Carolina | $28,440 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,330 |
| Ohio | $28,230 |
| Georgia | $27,940 |
| Iowa | $27,930 |
| Wyoming | $27,560 |
| Arkansas | $27,180 |
| South Dakota | $26,870 |
| Oklahoma | $26,210 |
| Virgin Islands | $25,940 |
| West Virginia | $23,870 |
| Alabama | $22,420 |
| Louisiana | $22,100 |
| Mississippi | $21,760 |
| Guam | $21,350 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,150 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for childcare workers differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $37,475 | 11.9% | 0.74 |
| New England | $36,760 | 6.2% | 1.37 |
| Middle Atlantic | $34,591 | 17.6% | 1.26 |
| Rocky Mountains | $33,915 | 4.7% | 1.29 |
| Great Lakes | $30,393 | 12.0% | 0.91 |
| Plains States | $29,990 | 9.6% | 1.59 |
| Southwest | $29,122 | 12.3% | 1.04 |
| Southeast | $27,979 | 25.4% | 1.15 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Childcare Workers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | FL | $47,730 | 1,440 |
| Ocala, FL | FL | $44,990 | 440 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $44,970 | 5,760 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $43,640 | 2,440 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $42,730 | 830 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $40,180 | 2,220 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $39,610 | 490 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $39,460 | 610 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of childcare workers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 315,010 | $31,000 |
| Educational Services | 118,900 | $35,460 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 32,340 | $31,470 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 29,790 | $27,920 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 9,710 | $37,140 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 800 | $35,290 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 790 | $32,640 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 660 | $37,440 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for childcare workers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Physical Proximity
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How to Become Childcare Workers
Most childcare workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Medical and Health Services Managers (Supplemental)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Supplemental)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (Supplemental)
- Health Education Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (Primary-Short)
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for childcare workers often complete programs in:
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
3 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-9011.00 (Childcare Workers).
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